Ridiculous History
Episodes
Around the World in a Model T: The Story of Aloha Wanderwell
05 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays her name may be unfamiliar, but in the 1920s Aloha Wanderwell was an international celebrity, traveling hundreds of thousands of miles across...
Why George Washington is Huge in Barbados
03 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Before he became one of the leaders of the Revolutionary War, George Washington was just another young man with big dreams and no small amount of wand...
John Willis Menard: The First African American Elected To US Congress
30 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A statesman, editor, publisher, poet, activist and more, John Willis Menard was a true Renaissance man, and he dedicated his life to public service. L...
The Bloody Revenge of Saint Olga of Kiev
27 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When the rebellious Drevlian tribe killed Princess Olga of Kiev's husband, Igor, she set forth on one of history's bloodiest revenge's schemes, instig...
The Super Fight: When Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano Had A Fight That Never Happened
23 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Radio executive Murray Woroner had a dream -- a fantasy radio boxing tournament matching 16 fighters from different eras. In a move that pushed the bo...
Shame and Fish: The Embarrassing and Tragic Story of François Vatel
20 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Ben and Noel dive into the story of François Vatel, a majordomo who was tasked with organizing an extravagant royal banquet in 1671....
Creature Feature: Go Home Nature, You're Drunk
15 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join the guys as they make a return appearance on Creature Feature, the podcast that takes a critter’s eye view to explore how animal behavior paral...
Hunting Fireflies for Fun (and Profit)
14 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
From the 1960s well into the 1990s, thousands of children in the United States were actually paid to hunt fireflies. Join the guys as they explore the...
The Listener Mail Extravaganza
09 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The guys often end the show by asking you and your fellow listeners for your own takes on everything from strange town names, crackpot military experi...
That Time Ancient Monks Waged War Over A Copyright
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The first modern copyright law was the Statute of St. Anne, passed in Great Britain in 1710. However, copyright disputes themselves are much older -- ...
Ye Xian: The Story of China's Cinderella
01 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We've all heard the story of Cinderella -- it's one of the world's most popular fairy tales! However, this story exists in multiple versions across th...
The Portuguese Bank Note Crisis: How One Lucky Forger Almost Destroyed A Nation's Economy
30 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Artur Virgilio Alves dos Reis had a gift. He wasn't the smartest kid growing up, nor was he the most athletic -- he was, however, one of Europe's most...
Cow Shoe Camouflage: How Prohibition-era Moonshiners Outsmarted the Feds
25 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
During the Prohibition Era, moonshiners and federal agents continually tried to outsmart one another — and one of the moonshiners’ most creative i...
Castle Itter: When Germans and Americans Joined Forces in World War II
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With one notable exception, American and German forces were bitterly opposed to one another during World War II -- that exception? The Battle of Castl...
A Grave Mistake: The Story of Patton's "Abandoned Rear"
18 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When George S. Patton decided to found a tank training school in the tiny French village of Bourg, the mayor approached him in tears. "An American sol...
Did the US Mafia actually start in New Orleans?
16 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of the mob today, most Americans think of New York City -- and why not? After all, films, books and TV shows often depict New York as th...
Meet Albert Cashier, the Trans Man Who Fought for the Union in the Civil War
11 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Born as 'Jennie Hodgers' with a female sex assignment on December 25th, 1843, Albert Cashier emigrated to the United States lived as a man from his ea...
Operation Northwoods: How the US Planned to Attack Itself and Start a War with Cuba
09 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that the US and Cuba have a long history of tense relations, often teetering on the brink of war. But just how far would Uncle Sam go t...
That Time Irish Separatists Invaded Canada
04 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s true! Once upon a time, Irish separatists based in the United States thought invading Canada was the best way to reunify Ireland. Join the gang...
The Night Witches: How an All-female Soviet Bomb Squad Terrorized Nazi Germany
02 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The 588th Night Bomber Regiment didn't have the best equipment, and they didn't have the best planes. What this all-female bomber regiment did have, h...
Bug Wars: When We Tried to Turn Insects into Soldiers
27 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Let's be honest: Bugs aren't everyone's cup of tea, but they're fascinating, crucial parts of the ecosystem. They're also, according to a few eggheads...
Yasuke, the African Samurai
25 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Japanese Daimyo Oda Nobunaga was fascinated by the mysterious, towering slave of a visiting Jesuit missionary, and soon this man, Yasuke, joined Nobun...
The Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm I Tried To Make An Army of Super Tall Soldiers
20 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm was fascinated by all things military, but the crown jewel of his army was a group known as the Potsdam Giants -- men ...
Playboy, Progressive Politics and Stand-up: The Dick Gregory Story with Wayne Federman
18 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Wayne Federman joins the guys to explore the rise of legendary comedian Dick Gregory, who began life as a boundary-breaking stand-up ...
I Modi: The Scandalous Erotic Blockbuster Banned By The Vatican
13 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays it's no secret that some Papal administrations from centuries past were a bit more scandalous than others, but when master engraver Marcanton...
Patriots, Prisoners and Plants: The World of Political Body Doubles
11 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Has anyone ever told you you resemble a celebrity? Have you ever thought of making this resemblance your job? In today’s episode, the guys explore r...
Fort Blunder: The US Fort Mistakenly Built in Canada
06 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
After the War of 1812, the US decided to shore up security at Lake Champlain by constructing a fort on Island Point. However, due to a surveying error...
The Duke of Edinburgh is Literally a God in Vanuatu
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Compared to most people, the UK's Prince Phillip has a pretty swell life -- he's literally royalty, has never gone hungry, and has traveled the world ...
The Honorary Citizens of the United States
30 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know you can become an honorary citizen of the United States? It's true -- but it isn't easy. Join the guys as they explore the life and times...
The Nature of Ephemera, with Alex Williams
28 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Whether we’re talking yesterday’s newspaper, pamphlets from museums, or even old lottery tickets and straw wrappers, the world is chock full of th...
The Return of Listener Mail
23 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you written to the guys lately? All of their best topic suggestions come from you and your fellow listeners -- tune in as Ben, Noel and Casey tak...
That Time Ohio and Michigan Almost Went To War
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A misunderstanding of the geography of the Great Lakes started a feud, known as the Toledo War, between the state of Ohio and a territory called Michi...
The Rise and Fall of Local Scrip: Alternative Currencies of the Great Depression
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been so broke that you ended up creating your own currency? It may sound like a crazy idea today, but during the Great Depression multip...
The Attack of the Japanese Balloon Bombs
14 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Picture this: It's late 1944, and you, like thousands of other people on the west coast of North America, have noticed bizarre, jellyfish-like objects...
Marie Antoinette and the Diamond Necklace Hoax
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Queen Marie Antoinette's reputation was already tarnished by gossip in 1784, but was completely ruined by the implication that she defrauded the crown...
Nosy Boraha: The Pirate's Paradise (And Cemetery)
07 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays most people know the pirates depicted in fiction bear little resemblance to real-life, historical pirates. Few actually buried any treasure, ...
How the Black Death Came To Norway On A Ghost Ship
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the 1300s, the Black Death sprang up in central Asia and swept across continents, killing millions. Quarantines became common as various nations so...
Susanna Caroline Matilda: The Colonial Grifter Princess
30 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever dreamed about shedding your old identity, casting aside your obligations and becoming an entirely different person? Susanna Caroline Mat...
History's Weirdest Flexes, Part 2
25 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
While the phrase 'weird flex' may be relatively recent, it turns out that this phenomenon itself is as old as human civilization. Join the guys with s...
History's Weirdest Flexes, Part 1
23 Apr 2019
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...
How Robert 'The Fastest Knife in the West End' Liston Conducted a Surgery With a 300% Mortality Rate
18 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that hospitals can be intimidating, scary places -- but the medical operations of the modern day can't hold a candle to the grisly proc...
How Oliver Cromwell Got Executed Several Years After His Death
16 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Oliver Cromwell is known as one of the most famous figures in English history -- he was a Puritan with no military experience when the Civil Wa...
Hong Xiuquan: The Younger Brother of Jesus Christ Who Led a Bloody Rebellion in China
11 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When the schoolteacher who would come to be called Hong Xiuquan first heard of the Christian religion, he wasn't particularly bowled over. However, wh...
How Big Bill Speakman Fought Off North Korea With Beer Bottles
09 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Speakman, better known as the “Beer Bottle VC”, single-handedly took on a brigade of Chinese People’s Army Infantry in four hours of close-...
Teddy Roosevelt May Just Have Saved Modern (American) Football
04 Apr 2019
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...
Prohibition, Prescriptions and the Rise of 'Medicinal' Booze
02 Apr 2019
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...
Did Robert E. Lee hate Confederate Memorials?
28 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
From 1861 to 1865, the United States of America was a country divided. More than a century later, it remains America's bloodiest war. After the cessat...
California Schoolchildren and the Great Squirrel War
26 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In 1918, as the planet was consumed by World War I, the government of California found itself combating an unexpected and catastrophic enemy: Ground s...
When West Virginia Begged the USSR for Foreign Aid
21 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Were it not for the coal mine, the town of Vulcan, West Virginia may well have never existed. As a rural and geographically isolated community, Vulcan...
Idiomatic for the People II, Part 2
19 Mar 2019
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...
Idiomatic for the People II, Part 1
14 Mar 2019
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 Statue of Liberty Almost Lived in Egypt
12 Mar 2019
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 Liberty Island. Join the guys ...
Agent Garbo: The Strange Tale of the Man Who Saved D-Day
07 Mar 2019
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 spy...
The War of the Stray Dog: How Far Would You Go For Your Pet?
05 Mar 2019
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. ...
The Tragic Origin Story of Morse Code
28 Feb 2019
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 ...
Operation Gunnerside: How a Crew of Military Skiers Ruined the Nazi Bomb
26 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On February 27, 1942, nine saboteurs set out in the middle of the night to blow up a Nazi-controlled heavy water plant in Norway. This operation was a...
How far did Isaac Newton go to hunt down forgers?
21 Feb 2019
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...
How Admiral Horatio Nelson Ended Up Dead in a Barrel of Brandy
19 Feb 2019
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...
English Men Used to Sell Their Wives
14 Feb 2019
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...
How Louisiana Almost Became a Hippo Ranching Hub
12 Feb 2019
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...
The Weird Life of George Washington, Part 2
08 Feb 2019
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...
The Weird Life of George Washington, Part 1
05 Feb 2019
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...
Who was the highest paid athlete in history?
31 Jan 2019
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,...
Clara, The World's Most Famous Rhinoceros
30 Jan 2019
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 ...
How the Monopoly Board Game Became a World War II Escape Kit
24 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Monopoly is a pretty divisive game, and people tend to either love it or hate it. However, for hundreds of Allied POWs captured during World War II, M...
Idiomatic For The People, Part 1
23 Jan 2019
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...
Was there a real-life Rapunzel?
17 Jan 2019
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...
Benjamin Franklin's Advice on 'Finding a Mistress'
15 Jan 2019
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...
What does 'Idaho' actually mean?
10 Jan 2019
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...
Uncle Sam Tried to End World War II With Bat Bombs
08 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It sounds like something straight out of the cave beneath Bruce Wayne's Manor, but thanks to the passion of a part-time inventor named Lytle Adams, th...
The American Soldiers Who Defected to North Korea and Became Movie Stars
04 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Often described as one of the most isolated countries in the world, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has been ruled by the Kim dynasty since ...
How a Broken Toilet Foiled a German Sub
01 Jan 2019
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...
Creature Feature: The Dark Tetrad
27 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Join the guys as they make an appearance on Creature Feature, the podcast that takes a critter’s eye view to explore how animal behavior parallels t...
Gustaf Broman Tried to Cross the Atlantic in a Canoe . . . Or Did He?
25 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In 1895, Gustaf Broman announced he would sail across the Atlantic in a 13-foot-long sailboat crafted from a cedar log. His route had an odd beginning...
The Weird, Surprisingly Recent Origin of the Tooth Fairy
20 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
For millions of kids in the West, the story is as mysterious as it is profitable: Once your baby teeth begin falling out, hide them beneath your pillo...
When Vikings Loot The Wrong Town
18 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Like many Viking leaders, Halfdan and Bjorn wanted to be known for their fearlessness in battle and their ability to locate the finest spoils -- they ...
Were Tulips Really The Bitcoin of the 1600s?
13 Dec 2018
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...
(Some of) History's Dumbest Military Prototypes
11 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's true that the world's militaries often pioneer technological innovation -- but don't let all those great successes fool you! The world's militari...
The Forty Elephants: London’s All-Female Jewel Thieves
06 Dec 2018
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. Join the guys as they expl...
The Malleus Maleficarum: A Real-life Witch Hunter's Bible
04 Dec 2018
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...
The Great London Beer Flood of 1814
29 Nov 2018
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. ...
Dr. Seuss Wrote His Most Famous Book On A Bet
27 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays, world-famous children's author Dr. Seuss is one of the most well-known writers on the planet. "Green Eggs and Ham", one of his most successf...
Feral Children and the True Story Behind The Jungle Book
22 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What inspired Rudyard Kipling to write The Jungle Book? Join the guys as they explore the real-life, tragic stories of feral children abandoned by the...
When Dentist Sold Dentures Made with Corpse Teeth
21 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Here in the modern day, most people don’t love going to the dentist — but we still have it much better than the dental patients of yesteryear! Joi...
The Laxative-laden Journey of Lewis and Clark
15 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Before Lewis and Clark set out to explore the western side of the continent, they tried to prepare for every possible contingency — including medica...
The Strange and Spectacularly Disgusting Story of the Great Kentucky Meat Shower
13 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
On March 3rd, 1876, residents of Bath County, Kentucky were startled to see what appeared to be chunks and flakes of meat falling from the clear, clou...
The Bizarre Origin of the Oxford English Dictionary
08 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With 600,000 words and 3 million quotations, the Oxford English Dictionary is a massive tome. Work began on the dictionary in 1857, but the first edit...
How Conman Victor Lustig Sold The Eiffel Tower (Twice)
06 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Born Robert Miller, the man who would later become known as Count Victor Lustig traveled across Europe and the US bilking hundreds of people out of hu...
George Carlin Gets Quoted in the Supreme Court: Ridiculous Stand-up Stories with Wayne Federman
02 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In the second part of this two-part series, special guest Wayne Federman explores the strange, curse-word-riddled stand-up bit that resulted in George...
The People vs. Lenny Bruce: Ridiculous Stand-up Stories with Wayne Federman
31 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Lenny Bruce is a legend in the history of stand-up comedy, and while his use of explicit language thrilled audience members, it didn't win him any fri...
The Life and Times of Ol' Knife Hand
23 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A necropolis in what is now Northern Italy holds a strange and, at first glance, terrifying corpse. A Lombard man, aged somewhere between 40 and 50 ye...
The Ridiculous Story of the World’s First (Documented) Serial Killer
18 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Locusta of Gaul, also known as Lucusta The Poisoner, was one of the most infamous criminals of ancient times. Alternately sponsored and betrayed by th...
Back When the Rich Ate Corpses
16 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays it's safe to say that cannibalism isn't a widely-accepted practice, but not so long ago it was considered the bleeding edge (get it?) in medi...
The Mummies of Guanajuato
11 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When the city of Guanajuato instituted a grave tax, they included some harsh penalties for those who couldn't pay -- if you went more than three years...
The Curious Rise of SPAM
09 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays the iconic 'SPAM' logo is recognized around the world -- whether you're traveling in the US state of Minnesota or Busan, Korea, you'll more o...
The Smooth-talking Takeover of Tabor Bridge
04 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In 1805, two French Marshals found themselves in quite a pickle -- Jean Lannes and Joachim Murat needed to cross the Danube at the Tabor bridge (a ser...
History's Coolest (Non-Human) Political Candidates, Part I
02 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's no secret that politics can be a minefield of quirky events, and strange things happen in the lead up to elections. But just how strange can it g...
Attack of the Aswang: How the CIA Used Vampires as Weapons of War
27 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Horror fans can tell you there's more than one type of vampire -- in fact, there are hundreds of vampire-like fiends in cultures around the world. In ...
A Dead Pope Goes To Court
25 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Catholic Church is no stranger to scandal and controversy, but in January of 897 the institution was home to a new and unique scandal that put the...
Who are the Hartlepudlian Monkey Hangers?
20 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Years ago, if you wanted to start a fight in Hartlepool in north eastern England, all you'd have to do is start calling people 'monkey hangers'. But w...