Ridiculous History
Episodes
How Bertha Heyman Conned Her Way Into Show Business
14 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Bertha Heyman was a notorious con artist with a robust rap sheet and a penchant for bilking well-to-do, otherwise shrewd men. Listen in to learn how B...
That Time Germany Got Obsessed With Polar Bear Photos
12 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When French photo collector Jean-Marie Donat stumbled upon his first vintage picture of a German dressed as a polar bear, he initially thought it was ...
Rose Mackenberg: Houdini's Ghostbuster
07 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
While the papers of the time relegated Rose Mackenberg to a sidekick role as the "girl detective" working with famed skeptic and escape artist Harry H...
Science and Spiritualism: Why were ghost stories so popular in the 1800s?
05 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nowadays western historians tend to regard the scientific progress of the 19th century as a linear, indelible line from one breakthrough to the next. ...
John of Bohemia, the Blind King Who Charged Into Battle
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We recount the epic tale of John of Bohemia, a 14th-century king who charged into the Battle of Crécy at age 50 - despite having been blind for the p...
Kakigōri: The Story of Japan's Famous Shaved Ice
30 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
While this Japanese delicacy isn't the world's only icy dessert, it's certainly one of the most unique -- that iconic, delicate texture sets it apart....
John Edmonstone: The Man Who Trained Darwin
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Born into slavery in the 1700s, John Edmonstone gained his freedom in 1817 and moved to Edinburgh, where he stuffed birds for the Natural Museum and t...
The Death of Luxury Air Travel
22 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Flying in an airplane is an enormous privilege, but nowadays it's often seen as an inconvenience more than anything else -- the crowding, the lines, t...
The Bizarre Capitulation of Stettin
17 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When French General Antoine Lasalle first arrived at the Prussian-held city of Stettin in 1806, his odds of successfully capturing the community seeme...
John Wilkes Booth's Brother Saved Abraham Lincoln's Son
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sometime in 1864 or 1865, Robert Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln, had a close call with death in a subway station when he was saved at the l...
John Clem: The 12-year Old Civil War Hero
10 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Although most soldiers in the U.S. Civil War were between 18 and 39, an estimated 20% of the soldiers were underage -- and thousands of those children...
Christopher Columbus Was Such A Jerk That Even Spain Turned Against Him
08 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For decades in the West, Christopher Columbus was often inaccurately portrayed as a pioneering explorer, his life, times and crimes sanitized in the p...
The Kaiser’s Plan to Invade the United States
03 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kaiser Wilhelm II was nothing if not ambitious, and he had grand geopolitical plans to increase German influence across the planet. In his mind, there...
How Uncle Tom's Cabin Became One of the Most Popular Books in China
01 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Published in 1852, Uncle Tom's Cabin quickly reached international acclaim, becoming the best-selling novel of the 19th century, and the second-best s...
Tom Watson Gordy: How One Uncle’s Adventures Inspired Jimmy Carter to Join the Navy
27 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Former President Jimmy Carter has dedicated his life to public service, but even now few people know what exactly inspired him. Join Ben, Noel and spe...
Teddy Bears, Rhinos, Safari and Everywhere Else: A Conversation with Daniel Scheffler
24 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Although he was wildly popular during his final Presidential term (the world-famous Teddy Bear was even inspired by him), Theodore Roosevelt declined ...
The Gaspee Affair: Rhode Island’s Revolutionary “Tea Party”
19 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Most US residents are familiar with the famous Boston Tea Party - but it was far from the only conflict of this type. Join the guys as they explore Rh...
Otto Rahn, The Nazi Occultist Who Hated Nazis and Inspired Indiana Jones
17 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Otto Rahn was a German writer obsessed with finding the Holy Grail -- and, despite being opposed to the Nazi party, as well as openly gay, Otto was fi...
4 Times Women in the US Were Actually Arrested for Wearing Pants
13 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today we take a look at a practice that many of us do every day without a second thought - namely, wear pants. However, for women throughout history, ...
Sir Francis Drake and the Great Iowa Swindle
10 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When Oscar Hartzell's mother met Milo and Sudie, she fell for a story too good to be true: She, as an heir to the fortune of Sir Francis Drake, was el...
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...