Ridiculous History
746 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 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
Wyoming Tales, Part 2: Absaroka, the State That Almost Was
March 19, 2021 02:10 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBBack in the 1930s, the residents of Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota felt the federal government— and the state legislatures— ignored them. They felt unheard, unheeded and, most importantly, moved to find solutions of their own. In this episode, Ben and Noel return to the story of Absaroka to ask: Was this meant to be the 49th state, or was it a publicity stunt? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wyoming Tales, Part 1: Walking in the Shoes of Big Nose George
March 17, 2021 00:35 - 39 minutes - 36 MBGeorge Parrott was a career outlaw -- a known thief, murderer and would-be train robber. When justice finally caught up with him and his game, he was destined for the hangman's noose. Yet George's demise was only the beginning of a bizarre posthumous tale. Tune in to learn why it's technically possible, even today, to walk in Big Nose George's shoes (and not, perhaps, in the way you might assume). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/l...
The Rise and Fall of the Flea Circus, Part 2
March 11, 2021 23:00 - 45 minutes - 41.5 MBIn the second part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and special guest Gabe Luzier drill down into the nuts and bolts of flea circuses -- how did they actually work? Is it true that some flea circuses did not, in fact, have fleas? Is there any way to see a real flea circus in the modern day? Tune in to learn more about one of history's strangest novelty performances. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
The Rise and Fall of the Flea Circus, Part 1
March 09, 2021 23:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBFleas -- they're one of the only animals Ben actually doesn't like! Yet, once upon a time, these bloodsucking nuisances were star performers in novelty acts across Europe and, later, North America. But what were they, exactly? Can you really train fleas to do tricks and play instruments? Who even came up with this weird idea? In this episode, the guys welcome special guest and researcher extraordinaire Gabe Luzier to dive into the origin of that bizarre novelty time largely forgot: the flea ...
History's Most Ridiculous (and Deadly) Beauty Trends
March 08, 2021 17:33 - 56 minutes - 51.9 MBIt's a Ridiculous History takeover! In honor of International Women's Day, join the hosts of the podcast Stuff Mom Never Told You for this very special episode diving into the depths of history's most ridiculous beauty and fashion trends. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Billy Cottrell, the Tyrant Mayor of Cedar Key, Florida
March 04, 2021 23:00 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBThe politically-connected, cartoonishly belligerent Billy Cottrell was a terrible Mayor, hated and feared by the locals of Cedar Key, Florida -- and no one was sure what to do. At least, that is, until the Federal government got word of the situation. Tune in to learn how the US President eventually pled with Congress to allow for military intervention. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The US and the UK Almost Went to War over a Pig
March 02, 2021 17:36 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBIn 1859, a dispute between neighbors in the San Juan Islands of the Pacific Northwest led to the untimely death of a local (and very unlucky) pig. What could have been an easily resolved situation quickly ignited simmering tensions between the US and the UK, both of whom claimed the islands as their own territory. In the days and weeks after, soldiers from both nations traveled to the area... each waiting for the other side to make the first move in what almost became a full-on war. Tune in ...
Introducing: Black Cowboys
February 26, 2021 20:00 - 1 minuteZaron Burnett’s dad didn’t want slavery to be his son’s only image of Black people in American history. So every night, he filled Zaron’s dreams with these incredible stories of Black cowboys. Despite what Hollywood taught us, one-in-four cowboys were Black. Their stories tell a bigger, braver, more honest history of America. Find Black Cowboys on the iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
The 1973 Michigan Pizza Funeral
February 25, 2021 23:00 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBIllario 'Mario' Fabbrini was true American success story: An immigrant who built his own pizza empire just as this iconic food was becoming a normalized, nation-wide delicacy. When the business was brought low by allegations of tainted mushrooms, he did something few people would have been brave enough to consider -- he made the disposal of these so-called 'tainted' pizzas a public event, holding a mass burial for an estimated 30,000 frozen pizzas. The funeral was attended by numerous notabl...
Elagabalus The Raunchy, Racy High Priest Who Became a Roman Emperor
February 23, 2021 22:00 - 53 minutes - 48.6 MBBorn Varius Avitus Bassianus, the emperor now known as Elagabalus scandalized ancient Rome with his constant displays of extravagance, his numerous sexual escapades -- and his insistence that all people worship the sun god Elagabal (represented by a mysterious black stone he brought to town). Tune in to learn how everyday Romans reacted to this larger-than-life character, and how his over-the-top behaviors eventually led to his downfall. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea...
John Wilkins Started a 17th-century Astronaut Program, Part 2: Wilkins (Tries to) Start a Space Program
February 19, 2021 02:00 - 24 minutes - 22.8 MBAs John Wilkins began to put more serious thought into the idea of sending people to the moon, he reached out to fellow intellectuals in hopes of exploring the problem. So: How did they go about planning this ambitious endeavor, and how far did they get? Tune in to learn more in the second chapter of this two-part episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
John Wilkins Started a 17th-century Astronaut Program, Part 1: Why not aim for the Moon?
February 17, 2021 02:42 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBLearn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Turtle Soup, Part 2: Rise of the Mock Turtle
February 12, 2021 00:37 - 24 minutes - 22.1 MBIn the second part of this series, the guys dive deeper into the story of turtle soup -- and how it soon gave rise to the more affordable, equally delicious 'mock turtle' soup. But what exactly is a mock turtle? Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Turtle Soup, Part 1: A Delicacy of Yesteryear
February 09, 2021 23:03 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBToday it's uncommon to see turtle soup on most restaurant menus-- but, not too long ago, this was considered a top-notch delicacy, praised for its flavor, enjoyed by world leaders, and widely praised for its deep, unique flavor. In the first part of this series, the guys explore the heyday of turtle soup... and how it eventually led to the rise of mock turtle soup. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stab Yourself to Health and Happiness: The Bizarre Rise of the Lebensweker
February 04, 2021 17:01 - 46 minutes - 42.7 MBWhen a bug bit German inventor Carl Baunscheidt, he was struck with an epiphany of sorts -- could 'venting' the human body through the creation of artificial pores (today known as puncture wounds) allow a person to rid themselves of various diseases and medical infections? Tune in to learn more about the runaway success of Carl's handy, weirdly popular Lebensweker, or Life Awakener. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...
The Hatpin Peril
February 03, 2021 04:58 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBNowadays, hatpins are a somewhat archaic fashion accessory--but at the turn of the century, they were often used as weapons to deter ne'er-do-wells and scoundrels. Tune in to learn how hatpins became a symbol of women's rights (and an international controversy). Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's a Cat's World, Part 2: The Rise of the Cat Show
January 29, 2021 00:49 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBIn the second part of this series, the guys explore the story of Harrison Weir, "The Father of the Cat Fancy." Learn how Weir led the charge to save the reputation of felines in Europe and abroad through the creation of high-class cat shows--and how these otherwise wholesome displays of quality cats became increasingly classist. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's a Cat's World, Part 1: The Sacred and the Suspicious
January 26, 2021 20:08 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBWhether you love them or hate them, there's no denying that cats hold a unique position in human society. They're (in)famous for making their own way -- "I tolerate you," the cat seems to say to its owner, "but I do not need you." While modern civilization is pretty pro-cat, this wasn't always the case. In the first part of this series, the guys explore the waxing and waning reputation of felines throughout history, from ancient Egypt to the Middle Ages and beyond. Learn more about your ad...
Dan Sickles, American Scoundrel, Part 2: The Civil War
January 22, 2021 03:48 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBAfter literally getting away with murder, Dan Sickles joined the military, later leveraging the dubious events of his military career to reinvent himself as a war hero. Not everyone was convinced he was quite the paragon he purported to be. Learn more in the second part of this two-part series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dan Sickles, American Scoundrel, Part 1: How to Get Away with Murder
January 20, 2021 01:32 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBDaniel Sickles was a real pill. For a time, the wealthy New Yorker was famous for his philandering -- and then he became famous for not only murdering a man in broad daylight... but getting away with it by pleading temporary insanity. Learn more about this American scoundrel in part one of this two-part series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
That Time New York Banned Spitting
January 14, 2021 23:00 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBAs tuberculosis spread throughout the US, New York City banned spitting. Learn how the Ladies’ Health Protective Association saved the Big Apple from a pandemic--and paved the way for the vote. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing a New Season of Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin
January 13, 2021 14:00 - 38 minutesHey, Ridiculous History fans! In case you haven’t heard, we recently launched a new season of Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin. Since you love [receiving show], we think you’ll like this one too. This season of Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin kicks off with Kristen Bell. Check it out! If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to listen and subscribe to Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://ne...
Admiral Byrd and the Polar Dairy
January 12, 2021 21:27 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBIn 1933, on his second expedition to Antarctica, Richard E. Byrd took the unusual, highly-publicized step of bringing some non-human crew along: Klondike Gay Nira, Deerfoot Guernsey Maid and Foremost Southern Girl. These three cows--four, if you count the one born in the course of the journey--were darlings of the US press both during and after the journey. But why did Byrd bring them to Antarctica in the first place? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com...
Weird 21st Century Predictions from Ages Past, Part 2: Your Personal Plane, A World Without Disaster and Retiring on the Moon
January 07, 2021 11:00 - 50 minutes - 46.2 MBLearn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Weird 21st Century Predictions from Ages Past, Part 1: Tesla, Square Tomatoes and Pseudosteak
January 05, 2021 20:54 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBIt's the first Ridiculous History episode of the New Year! Ben, Noel and Casey are ringing it in with some predictions--not their own predictions, mind you. Instead the guys are diving into the predictions of luminaries from ages past, exploring how much (or how little) these historical figures got right about the 21st century. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Old Rituals of New Years, Part 2: Neuroscience, Resolutions and the Rick Steves Fan Club
December 31, 2020 14:00 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBWhat a year, right? If you're listening to today's episode, you have (almost) officially survived. I'm ringing in 2021 with Noel, Casey and the rest of our Ridiculous Historians in this, the second part of our exploration into the very old roots of very New Years. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Old Rituals of New Years, Part 1: Slap the King and Dye those Eggs
December 30, 2020 03:36 - 42 minutesAs 2020 (finally) draws to a close, people across the planet will celebrate the arrival of 2021 in any number of ways, including traditional foods, religious rites and more. But where do these rituals come from? Join Ben and Noel as they explore the long history of ringing in the New Year in the first part of this special two-part series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Holiday Classic: When the Puritans Canceled Christmas
December 24, 2020 14:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBNowadays Christmas is a globally-recognized holiday celebrated by millions of people, but in the past this wasn't the case. In fact, some groups of Christians detested the holiday, going so far as to ban it completely. So what led Puritans to ban one of the most prominent celebrations in the Christian faith? Join Ben and Noel as they take a closer look at the strange story of Puritans and Christmas in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...
Holiday Classic: The Strange History of Antarctic Fruitcake
December 22, 2020 14:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBNowadays fruitcake is considered a stereotypical, often comical holiday punchline, but even in the modern day people across the planet can agree on at least one fruitcake fact: Those things are pretty darn durable! So how long could a fruitcake really last before it becomes inedible? Join Ben and Noel as they travel to Antarctica to find out in this classic episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Goodyear and the Mystery of the Ghost Blimp
December 18, 2020 03:30 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBIn 1942, a U.S. Navy airship flew out over the Pacific to search for Japanese submarines. It lost radio contact and, hours later, slowly crashed in the San Franciscan suburbs. Inside the gondola, everything seemed to be in order -- the parachutes were there, the instrumentation was functioning... but two-person crew was missing. To this day, no one knows exactly what happened aboard the L-8 Ghost Blimp. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio...
Benito Mussolini was Super into Wearable Milk
December 15, 2020 23:33 - 41 minutes - 37.8 MBToday Benito Mussolini is probably best known as the founder of Italy's National Fascist Party, but he was also very, very into milk. So much so, in fact, that he funneled tons of funding into a strange new process: the creation of wearable milk. Lanital, as it was known, was wool-like in appearance, and, for a time, quite successful! So where are all our milk skirts and milk trousers now? Listen in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See...
Snowmen as Protest: The Miracle of 1511
December 11, 2020 03:58 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBDuring the brutal winter of 1511, residents of Brussels built more than one hundred snowmen... and these sculptures weren't the type of snow sculpture you see in the modern day. Instead, the city was filled with satirical, often lewd displays critiquing the city's rulers, its poor and its working class alike. Tune in to learn more about that time snowmen became something like a citywide protest and widespread insult comedy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo...
Introducing: 'Uprising: A Guide From Portland'
December 09, 2020 11:00 - 2 minutesBackground and breakdown on 100 days of Portland insurrection, going in to the background, history of the current protests breaking down the struggles, successes and infrastructure that has made the uprising in Portland possible. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
Why are Chimney Sweeps good luck at weddings?
December 09, 2020 04:35 - 39 minutes - 36 MBIt seems odd, at first - the idea that a random chimney cleaner might pass by a wedding, then be brought into the party, shake sooty hands with the couple, and bless random people on the street. Yet the profession of cleaning chimneys carries generations of tradition, superstition and belief. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People Have Been Convinced Robots Will Take Their Jobs For Centuries
December 04, 2020 00:15 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBNowadays automation is affecting almost every industry on the planet, and numerous experts are raising alarms: AI, robotics and automation, they say, may well spell doom for millions of jobs held by humans. This is a valid concern... but by no means a new one. Join Ben and Noel as they dive into humanity's strange, inspiring, disturbing and, of course, ridiculous relationship with robots. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener f...
That Time the US was Terrified of Tomatoes
December 02, 2020 02:14 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBNowadays the tomato is an ubiquitous foodstuff in households across the planet - but in the US, this humble staple was once considered downright poisonous... and, later, it was touted as a miracle cure. In today's episode, Ben and Noel explore the origin of the tomato, its rocky rise to modern fame, and how a few small historical misunderstandings may have led people to believe this beautiful fruit was a symbol of everything from lycanthropy to witchcraft. Learn more about your ad-choices ...
How the Pandemic Helped (and Hurt) the Struggle for Women's Rights
November 26, 2020 19:44 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBThe 1918 epidemic played a massive, sometimes unacknowledged role in the struggle for women's rights. Tune in and learn more in today's episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How a German Prince Built his own Artificial Volcano
November 24, 2020 19:22 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBLike many nobles of his day, Leopold III Friedrich Franz traveled widely in his youth, taking in the ancient wonders of Europe. A stunning experience witnessing an eruption at Mount Vesuvius transformed the young prince's life. As he headed home to Germany, he vowed he would create a volcano of his own -- and, weirdly enough, he did just that. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Weird Origin of Pink Lemonade, Part 2: The Rise of Clown Pants
November 19, 2020 14:32 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBAs historians dove into the evolution of pink lemonade, one theory about its origin seemed particularly compelling (if gross): Pink lemonade, they argued, owes its existence to a circus, a washtub, and an unscrupulous carnie in a hurry. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Weird Origin of Pink Lemonade, Part 1: A Humble Citrus
November 18, 2020 01:55 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBNowadays, lemonade is a pretty popular drink -- and its counterpart, pink lemonade, occupies a space all its own. But where did this drink come from? Join the guys as they explore the surprisingly ancient origins of lemonade, as well as the dubious series of events that may have led to what we call pink lemonade today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Weird Origin of Pink Lemonade, Part 1: A Humble Citrus
November 18, 2020 01:55 - 35 minutesNowadays, lemonade is a pretty popular drink -- and its counterpart, pink lemonade, occupies a space all its own. But where did this drink come from? Join the guys as they explore the surprisingly ancient origins of lemonade, as well as the dubious series of events that may have led to what we call pink lemonade today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
An Elephant in the Vatican, Part 2: An Elephant in the Reformation
November 13, 2020 03:02 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBAs Pope Leo X's favorite pal, Hanno enjoyed a unique position in the Vatican -- he was the star of multiple gatherings and celebrations (which didn't always go as planned). Eventually, Hanno became a talking point for the Protestant Reformation. Join the guys as they explore the fate of Hanno and the gold enema that brought him to an untimely end in the second part of this two-part episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener...
An Elephant in the Vatican, Part 1: The Discovery of Hanno
November 11, 2020 02:34 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBIn February of 1962, HVAC workers discovered the remains of an elephant beneath the Cortile del Belvedere -- and a mystery was ahoof. The story begins in 1513, when Portugese king Manuel I sought to give Pope Leo X an extraordinary gift: Hanno, an elephant from distant shores. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
S T O V E G O B L I N
November 05, 2020 21:26 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBToday's setting: Zaragoza, Spain. The time: September of 1934. The problem? A stove goblin. At least, that's what the hapless Palazón thought as they tried to solve the mystery of a strange, disembodied voice that appeared to mischievously trash talk people from somewhere near the stove of their apartment. The case garnered attention from the police and other investigators, and ultimately disappeared. And, even today, the official explanation leaves a lot to be desired. Learn more about yo...
The US Didn't Always Have Secret Ballots
November 03, 2020 23:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBNowadays, voters in the US consider secret ballots a fundamental part of any election. Yet -- perhaps surprisingly -- this wasn't always the case. The road to secret ballots was long and fraught with absolutely ridiculous, and, at times, dangerous shenanigans. Tune in to learn more. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Case of the Greenbrier Ghost, Part 2: The Court
October 29, 2020 22:00 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBWhen the defense called Mary Jane Heaster to the stand, they likely meant to discredit her. However, she maintained that her daughter, Elva, had visited her -- from beyond the grave -- with proof that she was murdered. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ridiculous History Presents: Criminalia
October 28, 2020 16:51 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBIf you like Ridiculous History, check out this iHeartRadio & Shondaland Audio podcast – Criminalia. On Criminalia, hosts Holly Frey and Maria Trimarchi explroe the intersection of history and true crime. This season is all about lady poisoners. During the time that Chicago’s most visible criminal element was organized crime, Tillie Klimek was quietly becoming the city’s most prolific female serial killer. She allegedly killed between six and 20 people, all through arsenic poisoning. We ho...
The Case of the Greenbrier Ghost, Part 1: An 'Everlasting Faint'
October 28, 2020 03:02 - 37 minutes - 34.7 MBWhen Elva Zona Heaster passed away, the town doctor attributed the death to a heart attack. Elva's mother disagreed. Convinced that her daughter visited her from beyond the grave, Mary Jane Heaster brought the case into court - and the jury would consider the second-hand testimony of a ghost. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Hand of Glory, Part 2: Recipes, Necropants and Toes
October 22, 2020 23:53 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBLike any recipe, instructions for creating a Hand of Glory often varied - which one was considered legitimate? Also, the guys explore the odd, morbid magical item known as 'necropants,' and discuss the specifics of drinking beverages containing a severed human toe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Hand of Glory, Part Two: Recipes, Necropants and Toes
October 22, 2020 23:53 - 23 minutesLike any recipe, instructions for creating a Hand of Glory often varied - which one was considered legitimate? Also, the guys explore the odd, morbid magical item known as 'necropants,' and discuss the specifics of drinking beverages containing a severed human toe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers