Ridiculous History

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

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

CLASSIC: The Time a Soviet Premier Was Banned From Disneyland

15 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 publ...

That Time Japan Absolutely Rinsed Russia, Part Two: The Togo Turn

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 Time Japan Absolutely Rinsed Russia, Part One: The Race For Manchuria

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

CLASSIC: Kidnapping, Binge Drinking and Costumes: Voter Fraud in the 1800s

08 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Victorians Got Super Weird With Flirting, Part Two: Courtship and Calling Cards

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Victorians Got Super Weird With Flirting, Part One: "Fan Fiction"

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Why did people hate the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge?

01 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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" conf...

First Ladies Who Weren't Wives, Part One: The Niece Will Have To Do

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 St...

Some of History's Funniest Honorifics, Part One: The Babymaker, the Debauchee, and More

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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...

IP, Part Two: The Baffling World of Trademarks

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

A Ton of Inventors Died Due To Their Own Inventions, Chapter Two: Li Si and the Five Pains

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The world is riddled with inventors whose discoveries led to their demise. Thomas Midgley, Jr. is the world's worst inventor. Marie Curie discovered r...

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

18 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

The Ridiculously Ambitious History of the World's Fair, Part Two: Things Don't Always Work Out

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On paper -- and, often, in practice -- the world's fair is an astonishing global showcase of groundbreaking innovations. However, as Ben, Noel and Max...

The Ridiculously Ambitious History of the World's Fair, Part One: A Crazy Plan, and Crazy Success

14 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever dreamed of going to a science fair as an adult? If so, the world's fair is for you -- these massive international exhibitions occur arou...

CLASSIC: Why British Soccer Players Saluted the Nazis

11 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As global tensions grew to a breaking point in the lead-up to World War II, European nations used every available avenue to pursue their goals, includ...

How Dogs Went Domestic, Part Two: Yes, Dogs Know What You're Thinking

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine: at multiple points in history, despite their ecological rivalry, a few humans and a few wolves teamed up for a greater good. Fast forward tho...

How Dogs Went Domestic, Part One: Classic Rom-Com

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most folks agree: dogs are awesome. So, how did ancient humans and wolves end up hanging out in the first place? In the first part of this two-part ep...

CLASSIC: Why don't Americans use bidets?

04 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you're royalty or a roaming vagrant, a President or a pauper, one thing's for sure: At some point, you'll have to use the restroom. While sani...

CLASSIC: The Earliest Recorded Mooning Killed Thousands

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You've heard of mooning -- the practice of bearing one's butt as an insult -- but where did it come from? Join Ben and Noel as they dive into the dead...

The Story of Claudette Colvin, with Nimene Wureh

31 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

While most people today already know the inspiring story of Rosa Parks and her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Riots, a lot of folks still don't kn...

CLASSIC: How did Fido become the default name for dogs?

28 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

If you're like most English speakers, the first thing you think of when you hear the name "Fido" is, of course, a dog. But why? Join Ben and Noel as t...

Whatever Happened to Mac Tonight?

26 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In the great pantheon of fast food mascots, one iconic figure stands separate from the rest: a crooning, crescent moon-faced musician named Mac Tonigh...

The First Recorded Christmas Was The Latest Birthday Party Ever

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether or not you yourself celebrate Christmas, there's no denying it's one of the world's most well'known holidays -- in fact, this commemoration of...

CLASSIC: Dock Ellis and the Legend of the LSD No-hitter

21 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Almost 48 years ago, Pirates pitcher and notorious party animal Dock Ellis pitched a no-hitter while under the influence of LSD. How did this man acco...

Whoops! All Quizster, Part Two: A Ridiculous History of HowStuffWorks

19 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Still reeling from a tragic loss in the greatest of games, Ben, Noel and Max square off with Jonathan Strickland AKA The Quizster in one last battle o...

Whoops! All Quizster, Part One: The Gang Reunites

17 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After going off the grid for the better part of a year, Jonathan Strickland AKA The Quizster returns at the end of 2024, with several bones to pick. A...

CLASSIC: Maryland’s State Song was a Diss Track

14 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On the first listen, Maryland's old state song sounds pretty innocuous. There's the usual lauding of the state, a refrain based on "O Tannenbaum" and ...

How The (English) Alphabet Became A Thing, Part Two: Each Letter Has A Story

12 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

How did the English alphabet -- a strange agglomeration of curved and straight-lined symbols -- become a thing? In the second part of this special two...

Big Parma

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Stuffed crust pizza. Grilled cheese burritos. How did so much cheese get into so many things? On today's episode, we peel back the curtain on the Dair...

How The (English) Alphabet Became A Thing, Part One: Writing Stuff Down Is A Bonkers Idea

10 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Let's be honest: the concept of writing stuff down is both brilliant and insane. Right now, all around the world, countless people are scrawling or ty...

CLASSIC: The Story of Max, South Africa's Famous, Crime-fighting Gorilla

07 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When confronted with a home invasion, Max the gorilla brought international fame to the Johannesburg Zoo and briefly became the city's most famous cri...

History's Famous Mistranslations, Part Two: Life on Mars, the Cold War, and FARTFULL

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did a mistranslation lead to theories of life on Mars? What exactly was Khrsuschev trying to say at that big U.N. meeting? Language is amazing -- and ...

Neckties are Utterly Ridiculous

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy to look at history and think one idea or another is ridiculous -- but we also have to remember modern civilization has its own vast collecti...

CLASSIC: How Santa Anna Lost His Leg Twice, and Held a Funeral for It

30 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Often called "The Napoleon of the West", mainly by himself, Santa Anna was a legendary, larger-than-life politician, general and exile. While hundreds...

The History of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Part Two: A World-Class Show

28 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What began with marching bands all those decades ago has evolved past all expectations - and even if you don't particularly follow football, you'll pr...

The History of the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Part One: From Marching Bands to Celebrities

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether or not you consider yourself a die-hard football fan, you've almost certainly watched a halftime show. Over the past few decades, these perfor...

CLASSIC: That Time Chewbacca Needed Bodyguards

23 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Inarguably the most well-known Wookie in the Star Wars universe, Chewbacca also bears a strong resemblance to another popular creature in American cul...

How Emergency Call Lines Became A Thing

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In most of the modern world, the average person has an astonishing resource for any disastrous situation: you find a phone, then dial 3 numbers to be ...

Are the Vikings to Blame for Cats?

19 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

House cats are astonishing, fascinating, and at-times frustrating little creatures -- yet they've made a comfortable home with humans, spreading in st...

CLASSIC: Napoleon Bonaparte Was Attacked by Bunnies -- And Lost

16 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Born in Corsica, Napoleon Bonaparte rose from obscurity during the French Revolution, crowning himself Emperor of France in 1804. This brilliant, ruth...

The Most Ridiculous Weather of Baseball

14 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We've been going through a bit of a sports phase here on Ridiculous History, and of course we can't talk sports without talking baseball. In today's e...

Bhutan Grades Itself On Happiness

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Most people never get the chance to travel to Bhutan. Nestled high in the Himalayan mountains, this ancient kingdom is unique on multiple levels. It's...

CLASSIC: California Was Named for a Fictional Island Ruled by a Black Amazon Queen

09 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

California was admitted to the United States as the 31st state in 1850, but it acquired its unique name much, much earlier. Join Ben and Noel as they ...

The World's Weirdest Sports, Part Two: Literal Murderball

07 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

OK, imagine this: you've been captured by a neighboring civilization, hauled off to an unfamiliar city, and your captors tell you: "Hold up, we're not...

The World's Weirdest Sports, Part One: Buzkashī is Where You Fight Over A Dead Goat

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Regardless of everyone's differences in this wide, wide world, it's safe to say every culture loves some kind of sport. Often these sports can seem st...

CLASSIC: Ancient Mayan Ritual Alcohol Enemas

02 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Like many ancient cultures, the civilizations of Mesoamerica had a vast and rich history of unique cultural practices, spiritual beliefs and ceremonie...

One Guy Was So Good At Violin That People Thought He Worshipped Satan

31 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There's no denying Niccolò Paganini was a virtuoso -- in his heyday, this violinist was an international rock star, wowing crowds across Europe with ...

Credit Scores are Absolutely Ridiculous

29 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In theory, the concept of credit scores is simple, and makes a lot of sense: lenders need to know they can trust someone to pay back their debts, and ...

CLASSIC: That Time Vermont Was an Independent Republic

26 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today Vermont is known for its progressive politics, beautiful forestry, Bernie Sanders and Ben and Jerry's. It's not a state you'll hear much about o...

Spontaneous Generation, Part Two: "Broth Science"

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who could have guessed a series of broth experiments revolutionized humanity's understanding of life? Spoiler, not us. In part two of this week's two ...

Spontaneous Generation, Part One: Mice and Grain

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today the idea sounds silly. Why would anyone think nonliving substances can suddenly generate living things? Yet for much of human history, the conce...

CLASSIC: The Capture of Guam Was Bloodless and Quick, All Due to a Misunderstanding

19 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Located about 1500 miles to the east of the Phillipines in Micronesia, Guam is a small US territory with a tiny population, beautiful beaches and an i...

Ridiculous Royal Deaths, Part 5: A Blind and Bloody Finale (For Now)

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Whether we're talking mysterious nosebleeds, drowning in full armor, or charging literally blind into battle, history is chock-full of ridiculous roya...

Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart was Darn Near Unkillable

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Born to an aristocratic Belgian family, Adrian Carton de Wiart could have lived the easy life, with a plum job in government or law. Instead, however,...

CLASSIC: Are All US Presidents Actually Related?

12 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 2012 a student in Salinas, California, startled genealogists when she claimed that all Presidents save one were actually related. Could it be true?...

Post-Presidential Careers, Part Two: Adams, Taft, And More

10 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

George W. Bush is super into painting. Barak Obama loves making playlists. Taft decided to join the Supreme Court. In the part two of this week's two-...

Post-Presidential Careers, Part One: Happy Birthday, Jimmy!

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Over here in the US, there's one dream job so exclusive that only 45 people have held it so far: President of the United States of America, not to be ...

CLASSIC: What's the deal with two-dollar bills?

05 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Despite being pretty rare in comparison to other denominations, the U.S. two-dollar bill is one of the most storied notes in American folklore. So why...

Mark Twain Was a Terrible Investor, Part Two: Typesetters, Steam Pulleys and Tesla

03 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Well, Ridiculous Historians, as our pal Mark Twain settled into a life of literary fame, he still couldn't help himself from making huge investments i...

Mark Twain Was a Terrible Investor, Part One: The Legend of "Josh"

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today, Mark Twain is widely thought of as one of America's greatest authors -- but he was also, get this, a terrible investor. Inspired by his father'...

CLASSIC: How James Bond Created a Mexican Dia de los Muertos Tradition

28 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Day of the Dead is a longstanding traditional celebration in Mexico, and currently hundreds of thousands of people associate it with a gigantic pa...

What is Karaoke? Part Two: Going Global; Careful What You Sing

26 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As the karaoke phenomenon became a global pastime, it likewise transformed to adapt to cultures outside of Japan. In the second part of this two-part ...

What is Karaoke? Part One: An Origin Story

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nowadays most people are at least generally familiar with the concept of karaoke -- technology allows you to sing along with your favorite songs, ofte...

CLASSIC: Did Richard Nixon Unwittingly Smuggle Drugs for Louis Armstrong?

21 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's become one of the strangest anecdotes in modern American history -- numerous sources will swear to you that, in a last-minute panic before reachi...

The Nebraska Episode

19 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Let's be honest: when many Americans think of Nebraska, we immediately think of corn. Yet there's much more to the Cornhusker State than a single crop...

Occupy Alcatraz!

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Alcatraz! For a lot of us, this former island prison occupies an iconic space in the American zeitgeist. It's been home to some of the country's most ...

CLASSIC: 3 Times Society Refused to Accept New Books on Science

14 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Progress versus preservation: It's one of the eternal dilemmas found throughout every instance of human civilization. Should we embrace disruptive tho...

The Ridiculous, Murky Origins of Pasta, Part Two: From Myth to the Modern Day

12 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today pasta is a worldwide phenomena, and the story of pasta's spread is, in a very real way, also a study of global trade and civilization. Tune in t...

The Ridiculous, Murky Origins of Pasta, Part One: Basic Ingredients, Delicious Results

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Pasta is amazing. But where does the concept come from? In part one of this week's two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max delve into the origin of a simpl...

CLASSIC: That Time We Erased a (HUGE) Waterfall

07 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's often been said that "the art of losing isn't hard to master", and humanity overall seems to have a knack for losing everything from car keys to ...

Patents Are Absolutely Bonkers: An Origin Story

05 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever had a good idea -- like, a brilliant idea? If so, you may have immediately started trying to figure out the cartoonishly complicated, la...

That Time a Swedish Queen Became So Enlightened, She Quit Being the Queen

03 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Christina wasn't your average monarch of her day -- while many rulers sought to subjugate and terrorize their kingdoms, she sought to acquire knowledg...

CLASSIC: The Poetic Justice of Death by Molten Gold

31 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's a grisly death familiar to many fans of fiction and fantasy -- a hapless, greedy villain meets their end by having molten metal, often lead or go...

You Auto-go to the Drive-in, Part Two: Driving In and Out of History

29 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

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

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

CLASSIC: Japan, Baseball and the Curse of the Colonel

24 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Disturbing History of Last Meals, Part Two: Famous Final Snacks

22 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

The Disturbing History of Last Meals, Part One: A Creepy Origin Story

20 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 after...

CLASSIC: That Time the US Built a Flying Aircraft Carrier

17 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nowadays airships are seen as historical relics or novelties meant to fly overhead during sports games. However, not so long ago, the US military thou...

CLASSIC: Yes, Those are Corpses in the Diorama

15 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 object...

CLASSIC: Weird People Who Built Weird Things

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 spe...

CLASSIC: What was the West Point Eggnog Riot?

10 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

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

08 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

CLASSIC: Lyndon Johnson Chatted on the Phone More than a Teenager

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The 36th President of the United States is often recalled as a complex, flawed individual responsible for profoundly important legislation. However, h...

The Founding of the Smithsonian, Part Two: James Gives America a Fortune -- and a Mission

01 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

The Founding of the Smithsonian, Part One: The Remains of the James

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

CLASSIC: Arsenic: The Assassin's Dream Weapon

27 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For centuries people from all walks of life sought to eliminate friends, strangers and enemies using the devious, subtle poison known as arsenic. Arse...

The Orphan Train: That Time the US Auctioned Children Via Rail

25 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

20 Questions: A Ridiculous Crossover, Part Two

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 wit...

CLASSIC: The Killer Marketing Campaign Behind Guy Fawkes

20 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

CLASSIC: When Ancient India Beat Machiavelli to the Punch

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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 s...

The Preposterous History of Artificial Flavors, Part Two: Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

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...

CLASSIC: The Rise of Harvey Wiley's Poison Squad

13 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Nowadays U.S. grocery shoppers can be reasonably certain that the foods they purchase are safe (if not healthy). Yet this wasn't always the case. In t...

The Preposterous History of Artificial Flavors, Part One: The Vanilla Problem

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For most of human history, people were locked in a continual struggle to find food and avoid starvation. Eating for pleasure wasn't really a thing the...

"Right on," Said the Pope: How the Swiss Guard became the Elite Protectors of the Vatican

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

At first glance, the Vatican's security service makes no sense. The Swiss Guard is an elite force from, well, Switzerland. So what the heck are these ...

CLASSIC: Step Aside, James Bond: The Strange Stories of Espionage Animals

06 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's no secret that espionage and spycraft are common tools in the murky realm of geopolitics -- but not every spy is some sort of James Bond type cha...

Ottoman Harems Were Disturbing and Ridiculous, Part Two: A Real-life Game of Thrones

04 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Behind the heavily-guarded walls of the palace, the Ottoman Empire's harem was a world all its own. In the second part of this special two-part episod...

Ottoman Harems Were Disturbing and Ridiculous, Part One: Busting Myths

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For centuries, westerners devoured lurid, embellished stories about the mysteries of Near Eastern culture -- and, chief amid their fascinations, the i...

CLASSIC: How Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Influenced Star Trek

29 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Star Trek is one of the world's most well-known sci-fi franchises, spanning decades in film, TV, books, games and more. While it's had its fair share ...