Ridiculous History
735 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★ - 4.1K ratingsHistory is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.
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Episodes
Fonts They Love to Hate, Part Two: Papyrus, Times New Roman and Beyond
May 11, 2023 21:16 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBFrom serif to san, from kerning to Krueger, it turns out people have some pretty extreme opinions about fonts. In part two of this special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the nature of print. Papyrus, New Times Roman, Wingdings -- if you can name a font, it turns out there's a story behind it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Fonts They Love to Hate, Part One: Origins of Comic Sans
May 09, 2023 13:25 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBWhile many people outside of graphic design may not think about fonts in a conscious manner, it turns out the way a word is depicted can have a huge impact on how you process the information. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the origins of some of the world's-least favorite fonts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Even More Ridiculous Royal Deaths
May 04, 2023 18:55 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBAs the old saying goes, it's good to be king -- unfortunately, it can also be pretty dangerous. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore strange royal deaths, from a mysterious accident/assassination to a fatal chair, a drunken boat ride and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A (Completely Different) History of Sampling: Free Stuff
May 02, 2023 20:47 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBIn the ridiculous aftermath of their series on music samples, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the scrumptious, weird history of everything from free samples in grocery stores to the bizarre evolution of freebies in general. Strap in, Ridiculous Historians: it's much weirder than you think. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A History of Sampling, Part Two: Creativity in Court
April 27, 2023 19:40 - 56 minutes - 51.9 MBWhat happens when your favorite artist uses a sample in their own work? Are they merely inspired, or are they stealing? In the second part of this special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the -- wait for it -- ridiculously complicated legalities surrounding the science and art of sampling in the modern day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A History of Sampling, Part One: An Origin Story
April 25, 2023 19:28 - 52 minutes - 48.4 MBIn the world of music, sampling is somewhere between an art and a science. In this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the strange, fascinating evolution of sampling, from the early days of cutting physical tape to the dawn of hiphop and more. (Spoiler, we also spend some time talking about our recent Monster Jam adventure.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How Did Monster Trucks Become a Thing?
April 20, 2023 17:22 - 52 minutes - 48.5 MBEven if you're not a fan of cars or racing, you've heard of monster trucks -- they're the huge, modded vehicles famous for committing acts of wanton destruction in arenas and stadiums across the United States. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into their strange origin story... along with the rivalries that ensued offstage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Ridiculous, Scrumptious Desserts of Mardi Gras
April 18, 2023 22:29 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBFrom the epic parade to the krewes and flambeaux, Mardi Gras is a celebration chock-full of tradition -- and these traditions include some pretty amazing desserts. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the most ridiculous Mardi Gras desserts (spoiler: it goes way past king cake). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Amazing History of Japanese Toys, Part Two: The World Takeover
April 13, 2023 15:07 - 33 minutes - 30.3 MBAs Matsuzo Kosuge struggled to keep his business afloat amid the chaos of war, he became incredibly inventive, using cast-off beer and soup cans as raw materials and setting up shop in abandoned cattle sheds. In the second part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the rise of Japanese toys. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Amazing History of Japanese Toys, Part One: A Serious Business
April 11, 2023 17:58 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBWhen most of us think of toys, we fondly recall moments from childhood, or think of toys we gifted to loved ones over the years. Yet toys are a serious, big business -- and, more than once, they played a vital role in Japan's postwar economy. In part one of this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the amazing story of master toymaker Matsuzo Kosuge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Weird Journey of the $2 Bill
April 06, 2023 16:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBIf you've spent your life in the US, you've probably seen a $2 bill every once in a while -- they're much less common than, say, the $1, the $10 or the $20. In fact, many people assume the $2 bill is a thing of the past... but that turns out not to be true. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the origin of the Deuce, why it was so controversial, and why it's still around in the modern day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Fascinating History of Ice Cream Trucks
April 04, 2023 19:31 - 47 minutes - 44 MBThe iconic ice cream truck holds a special place in American culture -- but where did they come from? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive deep into the waffle cone of ice cream history for the scoop on one of the world's most successful street food industries. (We also don't actually get to waffle cones, but that's a story for another day.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Strange Tale of Charles Entertainment Cheese, Part Two: Betrayal and Nostalgia
March 30, 2023 18:31 - 59 minutes - 54.3 MBAs Nolan Bushnell's Chuck E. Cheese concept took America by storm, competitors entered the field. In the second part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore how Charles Entertainment Cheese weathered numerous ups and downs through the decades -- along with some pretty weird trivia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Strange Tale of Charles Entertainment Cheese, Part One: Atari and Pizza
March 28, 2023 18:01 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBFor many Americans, Chuck E. Cheese is an immediate hit of pure nostalgia -- the pizza! The birthdays! The games! And, of course, the characters. In this week's special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive deep into the strange history of Chuck E. Cheese, from its founding days in the shadow of Atari, all the way to the modern day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
CLASSIC: What's the Deal with Smashing Cake at Weddings?
March 23, 2023 15:00 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MBWeddings are an ancient tradition, and over the millenia the various rituals associated with (theoretically) life-long partnership have evolved and changed. One ritual in particular became both prominent and controversial in the West: the act of newly-married couples smashing wedding cake into each other's faces. So where did it come from? Why does it happen, and what do its critics think the practice means? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
THE LAST SOVIET - EP 5: Three Hot Days in August
March 22, 2023 10:01 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBSergei makes the decision to stay in the space station. But a few weeks later something happens that changes everything. Mikhail Gorbachev disappears. What happens over the next 3 days will decide the future of the Soviet Union once and for all. Three days that changed the world. Like what you hear? Follow us @kscope_nyc on Twitter and Instagram. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
CLASSIC: Conquest via Bird Poop: One Island at a Time
March 21, 2023 15:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBIf you land on a deserted island, you might be tempted to search for the basic stuff first -- food, water, shelter, and so on -- but don't forget to keep an eye out for guano! Why, you ask? Well, due to a relatively obscure law, the presence of guano on a deserted island may allow you to declare it property of the United States! Sort of. Tune into today's classic episode learn more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Architecture of Spite, Part One: Lovers, Loiterers and Murderers
March 16, 2023 17:54 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBAt its best, architecture is a kind of poetry made tangible, frozen in time for generations to come. But, as it turns out, architecture can also be a tremendous avenue for all sorts of less cool emotions: pettiness, spite, vengeance -- you name it. In the first part of this recurring series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the wide, surprising (and, frankly, ridiculous) world of spiteful architecture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Turn, Turn, Turn: A History of Turn Signals
March 14, 2023 15:45 - 31 minutes - 29 MBIf you've ever been stuck in traffic, you know turn signals are a vital part of safe driving (though not everyone seems to think so). But where did these nifty little blinking lights come from? Why didn't they come along until years after the invention of the automobile? Join Ben, Max and Noel as they explore the strange evolution of signaling, from the early days of on-the-road hand gestures all the way to modern, electronic turn signals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
A Legally Haunted House
March 08, 2023 20:00 - 41 minutes - 38 MBThese days, many people associate the idea of a 'haunted house' with horror novels, campfire tales and scary movies. But what happens when someone goes to court, claiming their new house is haunted? In celebration of International Women's Day, guest hosts Lauren Vogelbaum and Mykal Alder June take over to explore the strange series of events that led to New York officially declaring at least one house legally haunted. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Oddly Dark History of Crash Test Dummies (Not The Band)
March 07, 2023 15:36 - 50 minutes - 46.5 MBAs automobiles took the world by storm, manufacturers quickly realized they needed to make a ton of safety improvements -- and fast. But how could you accurately determine what happened in a car crash, without risking human lives? In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the evolution of crash testing... along with the little-known dark side of crash test dummies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Deeply Weird Stories of Patron Saints
March 02, 2023 21:14 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBDid you know there’s a Patron Saint of (repentant) murderers? And another one for ugly people? In today’s episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore how some Catholic Saints became the holy intercessors for some — frankly, weird — things. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Svetlana! Svetlana! The Strange Life of Josef Stalin's Daughter, with Dan Kitrosser
February 28, 2023 21:10 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBAs the daughter of Josef Stalin, it's safe to say Svetlana Iosifovna Alliluyeva was never destined for a normal life. Still, no one could have predicted the bizarre globe-trotting adventures she would take as she escaped the Soviet Union and became the world's most famous defector. In today's episode, the guys sit down with award-winning playwright and screenwriter Dan Kitrosser to learn more about his newest project, a deep dive into the story of Svetlana -- much of which remained untold un...
Let's Start a Coup! Ep 1 – A Basket Full of Fascists
February 27, 2023 09:07 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBNowadays, most people can agree that fascism is, well, a bad thing. But back in the 1930s, life absolutely sucked for most Americans, and fascism still had a sort of new car smell. Wall Street bankers were convinced they could take their country back from the clutches of ‘class traitors’ like Roosevelt, sink the New Deal and put the United States on a better – meaning more profitable – path. They had the money. They had an army. Now all they needed was a leader. See omnystudio.com/list...
Weird Epidemics, Part One: From Sweating to Pokemon
February 23, 2023 23:32 - 49 minutes - 45.5 MBWhat makes people laugh uncontrollably, for hours at a time? Whatever happened to that 'Sweating Sickness,' and why did so many parents in Japan become convinced their children might die if those kids watched a certain Pokemon episode? Tune in as Ben, Noel and Max explore the strange commonalities of past epidemics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
CLASSIC: When Scientists Hid Under Beds To Spy On Kids
February 21, 2023 14:27 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBLet's say you're a scientist -- how far would you go to carry out a study? Back in the 1930s, two intrepid researchers went into full spy mode, stalking college students in an effort to determine how they behaved when they didn't know they were being observed. In today's classic episode, we join Ben and Noel as they explore the strange, ridiculous and, at times, disturbing history of informed consent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Surprising Former Careers, Part III: Goldberg, Trudeau and Buscemi
February 16, 2023 21:49 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBWhile many celebrities and public figures are known for achievements in just a few specific fields, almost everyone has had more than a few odd jobs on the way to fame. Before she became a legendary actress, Whoopi Goldberg flexed her acting chops on some... mature phone lines. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was a jack of all trades before he finally entered politics. And iconic performer Steve Buscemi was, it turns out, one heck of a heroic firefighter both before -- and during -- h...
Introducing: The Last Soviet
February 15, 2023 05:00 - 3 minutes - 3.51 MBHey, Ridiculous History listeners! The newest hit docuseries of another star-studded podcast, The Last Soviet is live. Go check out the beginning of this thrilling journey with Lance Bass, NSync Superstar, and Russian-trained astronaut!” About The Last Soviet: Lance Bass, NSync Superstar, and Russian-trained astronaut takes you on a wild ride into space. He tells the story of the last Soviet cosmonaut who is trapped on the world’s only space station, as the country he knows and loves col...
It Turns Out Blue Laws Aren't Entirely Terrible
February 14, 2023 19:59 - 47 minutes - 43.1 MBIf you've ever tried to buy beer at the wrong time in certain parts of the US, you may have run into the odd proscriptions known as blue laws. Originally intended as a way of enforcing Christian religious practices, these laws ban certain business and recreational activities -- not just booze! -- on Sundays. But what are these things, exactly? How did they come to be, and why did the Supreme Court ultimately rule them constitutional despite their religious origins? Tune in as Ben, Noel and M...
The Origin of Moby Dick, Part Two: Horrors At Sea
February 09, 2023 21:27 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBCaptain George Pollard Jr. was just 29 years old when his whaling vessel, the Essex, met with disaster. As the hapless crew struggled (and largely failed) to survive their horrific time at sea, they encountered starvation, madness, exposure and some fates arguably worse than death. In the second part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the harrowing, doomed journey of the Essex -- and how the tale later inspired Herman Melville's masterpiece, Moby Dick. See omnystudio.com/lis...
The Origin of Moby Dick, Part One: Mocha Dick
February 07, 2023 20:45 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBToday, Herman Melville's magnum opus Moby Dick is lauded as a classic of American literature -- but it turns out Melville didn't invent the whole thing on his own. In the first part of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the story of a real-life white whale named Mocha Dick, and how his tragic story inspired Melville to create a fictional white whale all his own. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The (Weirdly Crooked) History of the Food Pyramid
February 02, 2023 22:14 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MBNutrition is a big deal -- across the United States, tons of kids learned the basics of nutrition through a handy infographic called the 'Food Pyramid,' which laid out how much of a given food group the average person should consume. But there's much, much more to the story than what you'd see in the average textbook. Join Ben, Noel and Max as they dive into the story of the food pyramid -- and how big business successfully, time and time again, went up against science to make sure consumers...
That Time Europeans Went Nuts For Dancing
January 31, 2023 17:24 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBIf you've ever been to a great concert or a banging dance party, then you know sometimes the spirit can overwhelm you -- you might feel compelled to dance. For most people this is a delightful experience... however, this wasn't the case for several unfortunate communities in Medieval Europe. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the strange store of Europe's Dancing Plagues, also called St. Vitus' Dance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Star Trek Almost Never Happened, Part Two: In Which We Boldly Go
January 26, 2023 16:36 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBAfter just three seasons, the original run of Star Trek reached syndication -- which would become key to everything that happened afterward. In the second part of this series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the fundamental cultural shifts triggered by Star Trek, and how the depiction of a more equal society (however fictional that depiction might be) genuinely changed the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Star Trek Almost Never Happened, Part One: Pilots and Peril
January 24, 2023 23:18 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBNowadays Star Trek is more than just a show -- it's a global pop culture phenomenon, with measurable impacts on the real world. In part one of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and resident Trexpert Max explore just how close Star Trek came, multiple times, to extinction. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“It’s Edible!” The Origin of Breakfast Cereal, Part Two
January 19, 2023 23:54 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBCereal is everywhere these days. While diet trends come and go, those ubiquitous boxes and mascots seem here to stay -- and, in some cases, it seems people are buying an idea as much as buying a foodstuff. In part two of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max trace the brilliant, at-times Machiavellian marketing moves that led cereal to glory... and ask how long those days may last. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“It’s Edible!” The Origin of Breakfast Cereal, Part One
January 17, 2023 19:04 - 37 minutes - 34.8 MBCereal is everywhere nowadays, but how did it become a thing? For most of us, this stuff is the ultimate convenient breakfast, and even the most sugary varieties claim to offer nutritional benefits and a balanced start to your day -- even if those claims may be a bit... misleading. In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive deep into the (at times bizarre) origin story of modern breakfast cereal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Would-be Presidents, Part One: If At First You Don't Succeed...
January 12, 2023 15:50 - 51 minutes - 46.8 MBIt takes a lot of skill -- and luck -- to become the President of the United States. We always hear about the folks who won elections... but what about the folks who lost, not once, but multiple times? In part one of this continuing series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the strange stories of presidential candidates who ran and lost. Then ran again, and lost again. (And then sometimes ran, and lost, again.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Leaf Blower Episode
January 11, 2023 02:33 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBOut of all the weirdly specific inventions for your yard, the leaf blower remains the most controversial (by far). In today's long-overdue episode, Ben, Noel and Max cut past the noise to figure out just where these things came from, how they work -- and why critics argue "the devil's hairbrush" isn't just annoying... but also potentially dangerous. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The US Navy Teamed Up With Mobsters, Part Two: The Mob Goes to War
January 05, 2023 21:20 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBAs the Mob clamps down on possible terrorists in the New York docks, the organization looks for new ways to expand their partnership with Uncle Sam -- as it turns out, they have a lot of connections in Sicily, and their assistance just may help the Allies win some decisive battles. Learn more in part two of this special two-part series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The US Navy Teamed Up With Mobsters, Part One: Luciano Gets Lucky
January 03, 2023 18:23 - 55 minutes - 50.7 MBAfter the suspicious destruction of the USS Lafayette in Manhattan, the Navy became convinced saboteurs may be at work on American soil. There was another problem -- try as they might, they couldn't infiltrate the notoriously shady dockworker culture, which was in large part run by organized crime. This conundrum led to one of the strangest partnerships in the history World War II: the US Navy, hat in hand, came to the Mafia and asked for help. Tune in for more in part one of this special tw...
CLASSIC: When People Thought They Were Made of Glass
December 29, 2022 16:26 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBIn 1422, King Charles VI died after ruling France for more than 40 years. He was also remembered as Charles the Mad, in part because he was convinced that his body was made of glass and would shatter upon contact with other people. In today's classic episode, we will revisit this condition, known as the glass delusion, which would continue to pop up through medieval Europe until the late 19th century, seemingly disappearing in the modern day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...
CLASSIC: Nazis, Churchill and Chocolate
December 27, 2022 21:26 - 27 minutes - 25 MBWhen Lord Victor Rothschild first heard the news, he was incredulous -- surely Nazi Germany wasn't seriously planning to assassinate Winston Churchill with an exploding chocolate bar. However, he learned the intelligence reports were solid. In today's classic episode, we will learn what Rothschild did to prevent this before the Prime Minister fell victim to a literal death by chocolate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ridiculous Royal Deaths, Part Two: Don't Drink Mercury
December 22, 2022 16:37 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBThroughout history, despite all their occasional arguments to the contrary, members of royal families have been just as human as everyone else. In part two of this continuing series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into more stories of ridiculous deaths, from plans to become immortal, to an obsession with testing the boundaries of food allergies, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ridiculous Royal Deaths, Part One: Revenge of the Buck-Toothed
December 20, 2022 19:35 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBIt's no secret that the lives of historical royalty have often been filled with triumph and tragedy -- and, sadly, many royals have met strange, untimely ends. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max dive into some of history's strangest (and most ridiculous) deaths. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
CLASSIC: When Dentist Sold Dentures Made with Corpse Teeth
December 15, 2022 17:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBHere 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! In today's classic episode, we join the guys as they dive into a strange, grisly story from the early days of dentistry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From Mesopotamia to Hot Dogs: A History of Mustard
December 13, 2022 15:11 - 49 minutes - 45.8 MBMustard! Whether you like it, love it, or hate it, you've almost definitely tried it in one of many varieties. In this installment of their continuing series on the ridiculous history of condiments, Ben, Noel and Max explore mustard's ancient origins all the way up the modern day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Coca-Cola, Dr. King, and the Civil Rights
December 08, 2022 16:36 - 37 minutes - 34.1 MBWhen Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. won the Nobel Prize, Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen, Jr. spearheaded a interdenominational celebration of King's work -- but many business leaders refused to go along. In fact, the whole thing may have fallen through were it not for the Coca-Cola company. Tune in to learn more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
William Mitchell Was Basically a Real-life Willy Wonka
December 06, 2022 04:00 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBDo you like Tang? Are you known to gobble Pop Rocks, or find yourself lying awake at night, worried about the world's supply of tapioca substitutes? If so, you might be surprised to learn one brilliant, prodigious food scientist single-handedly changed the world with these inventions and more. In today's episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore the story of William A. Mitchell, the real-life Willy Wonka behind everything from Cool Whip powdered egg whites. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
The Olympics Used to Have an... Extraordinarily Weird Art Competition
December 01, 2022 21:53 - 40 minutes - 37.1 MBEveryone's heard of the Olympics. This global competition brings athletes from around the world together to compete in various sports -- but, not too long ago, one man led the charge to bring artists, sculptors, musicians and more into the fray, with medal-worthy competitions of their own. In today's episode, the guys explore how this became part of the Olympics... and why the organization eventually revoked every single medal they awarded, striking these artists' work from the record. See ...