Ridiculous History
746 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 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
The Hand of Glory, Part One: A Thief's Theme
October 20, 2020 23:49 - 38 minutesIf you were an enterprising thief in the days of yore, there were few legendary tools as valuable as the grisly Hand of Glory -- the severed hand of a criminal, magically treated to create a macabre, powerful talisman. Join the guys as they delve into the dubious origins of this strange creation in the first part of this two-part series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
The Hand of Glory, Part 1: A Thief's Theme
October 20, 2020 23:49 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBIf you were an enterprising thief in the days of yore, there were few legendary tools as valuable as the grisly Hand of Glory -- the severed hand of a criminal, magically treated to create a macabre, powerful talisman. Join the guys as they delve into the dubious origins of this strange creation in the first part of this two-part series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Brooms and Witchcraft, Part Two: Inquisitions and Iniquity
October 15, 2020 17:33 - 33 minutesCould the stereotype of witches on broomsticks actually be a drug reference? Join Ben, Noel and Casey as they continue digging through the history and folklore of witchcraft -- and how it affected pop culture in the modern day -- in the conclusion of this 2-part series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
Brooms and Witchcraft, Part 2: Inquisitions and Iniquity
October 15, 2020 17:33 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBCould the stereotype of witches on broomsticks actually be a drug reference? Join Ben, Noel and Casey as they continue digging through the history and folklore of witchcraft -- and how it affected pop culture in the modern day -- in the conclusion of this 2-part series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Brooms and Witchcraft, Part One: A Killer in the Rye?
October 14, 2020 01:10 - 34 minutesMost people are familiar with the stereotypical image of a witch: a haggard, often older individual with a peaked hat, black robes, a demonic familiar and, oddly enough, a penchant for cruising around on broomsticks. But where did that last, weirdly specific, trope of flying on a broomstick actually come from? Join the guys as they explore the bizarre (and racy) theories behind the story in part one of this two-part episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast...
Brooms and Witchcraft, Part 1: A Killer in the Rye?
October 14, 2020 01:10 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBMost people are familiar with the stereotypical image of a witch: a haggard, often older individual with a peaked hat, black robes, a demonic familiar and, oddly enough, a penchant for cruising around on broomsticks. But where did that last, weirdly specific, trope of flying on a broomstick actually come from? Join the guys as they explore the bizarre (and racy) theories behind the story in part one of this two-part episode. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetw...
The Beast of Gévaudan, Part 2: The Birth of a Grisly Legend
October 09, 2020 00:30 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBAs the investigation into the Beast became a national obsession, the French monarchy stepped in, offering rewards (and threats) in their attempt to capture the murderous creature. In part two of this episode, Ben, Noel and Casey explore the end of the tale (tail? Nevermind.) and the mystery of the case that remains unsolved in the modern day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Beast of Gévaudan, Part Two: The Birth of a Grisly Legend
October 09, 2020 00:30 - 29 minutesAs the investigation into the Beast became a national obsession, the French monarchy stepped in, offering rewards (and threats) in their attempt to capture the murderous creature. In part two of this episode, Ben, Noel and Casey explore the end of the tale (tail? Nevermind.) and the mystery of the case that remains unsolved in the modern day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
The Beast of Gévaudan, Part One: Murders In France
October 07, 2020 01:30 - 38 minutesFor three years, a monster terrified the backwater region of Gévaudan. From 1764 - 1767, people found the mutilated corpses, one by one, across the countryside. The press of the time, unable to cover political stories, brought the story of The Beast to France at large. A legend was born. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
The Beast of Gévaudan, Part 1: Murders In France
October 07, 2020 01:30 - 33 minutes - 30.7 MBFor three years, a monster terrified the backwater region of Gévaudan. From 1764 - 1767, people found the mutilated corpses, one by one, across the countryside. The press of the time, unable to cover political stories, brought the story of The Beast to France at large. A legend was born. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The BBC Convinced People Spaghetti Grows on Trees
October 02, 2020 02:51 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBOn the first of April in 1957, cameraman Charles de Jaeger's childhood dream came true: Panorama, Britain's most popular news program, aired a segment describing the traditional method of harvesting spaghetti from trees. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The US Waged War on Pinball for Decades
September 29, 2020 22:00 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBToday, pinball is seen as a sort of retro novelty -- it's enjoyable, kitschy and wholesome. Yet for decades, political officials in cities across the United States worried pinball might lead to the downfall of the nation's children, become a driving force for organized crime, and dissolve the moral fabric of the US. So what led to this odd war on pinball -- and why aren't people worried about these games in the modern day? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwor...
The Misadventures of Wade Boggs, Part Two
September 25, 2020 02:00 - 39 minutesWade Boggs is a legendary, larger-than-life figure in the world of sports -- but one of his strangest achievements has nothing to do with baseball. Join the guys and special guest, Matthew Waxman, the creator of Trickeration, as they delve into the legend of Wade's 107 beer airplane flight... and walk through some very boozy math to discover whether the legend is true. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
The Misadventures of Wade Boggs, Part 2
September 25, 2020 02:00 - 33 minutes - 30.9 MBWade Boggs is a legendary, larger-than-life figure in the world of sports -- but one of his strangest achievements has nothing to do with baseball. Join the guys and special guest, Matthew Waxman, the creator of Trickeration, as they delve into the legend of Wade's 107 beer airplane flight... and walk through some very boozy math to discover whether the legend is true. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
The Misadventures of Wade Boggs, Part 1
September 22, 2020 22:00 - 48 minutes - 44.5 MBWade Boggs has always been regarded as a legend, both on and off the ballfield. However, some of his strangest experiences have very little to do with baseball. Join Ben, Noel, and special guest Matthew Waxman, the creator of Trickeration, as they explore the bizarre story of the Wade Boggs sex scandal. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Misadventures of Wade Boggs, Part One
September 22, 2020 22:00 - 54 minutesWade Boggs has always been regarded as a legend, both on and off the ballfield. However, some of his strangest experiences have very little to do with baseball. Join Ben, Noel, and special guest Matthew Waxman, the creator of Trickeration, as they explore the bizarre story of the Wade Boggs sex scandal. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
The Tragic Tale of the 'Turnspit Dog'
September 17, 2020 22:54 - 36 minutes - 33.7 MBBefore the rise of household automation, British elites struggled to find the perfect method for cooking meat. They preferred it roasted, slowly, turning continually on a spit to evenly distribute heat. Yet this backbreaking labor proved too difficult for even the most spry peasant child, and so they turned to an innovative (if cruel) alternative: Breeding dogs specifically to turn meat spits. These 'Turnspit Dogs' occupied one of the lowest rungs in the hierarchy of any noble kitchen, livin...
Knocker-Uppers: The Human Alarm Clocks of the Industrial Age
September 15, 2020 23:57 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBWhen adapting to life as factory employees, members of the British and Irish public confronted a new, unexpected obstacle -- how do you make sure you wake up in time for your shift? While predecessors of the alarm clock existed, they were unreliable (and incredibly expensive). And so enterprising people across the land started their own wake-up service, becoming the human alarm clocks affectionately known as 'Knocker-Uppers.' Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnet...
That Time New York City Rioted Over Shakespeare
September 10, 2020 23:21 - 49 minutes - 45.8 MBDon't let reality television and wrestling fool you -- celebrity rivalries are a tale as old as entertainment itself. In 1849, the rivalry between two Shakespearean actors culminated in a massive riot that would leave more than 20 people dead in the street. Listen in to learn more about the infamous Shakespeare riot... as well as the sociocultural tensions that actually drove the fray. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
Babies in Incubators were Once a Sideshow Attraction
September 08, 2020 23:15 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBNowadays, incubators are a common sight in hospitals across the US -- but, once upon a time, this life-saving technology was treated like a sideshow attraction. Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to 'Infantoriums' to marvel at how incubators were able to keep babies born prematurely both healthy and safe. And, the publicity generated by these side shows may be, in part, the reason this technology is in hospitals today. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwo...
The Rise of the US Camel Corps
September 03, 2020 22:00 - 43 minutes - 39.6 MBIn the years leading to the US Civil War, Uncle Sam searched for some way to safely traverse the desert. Horses, mules and humans alike often died of thirst in the unforgiving climate. Jefferson Davis, the the Secretary of War, proposed the military consider an ancient solution: Camels. Tune in to learn more about the rise (and fall) of the US Camel Corps. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The United Kingdom Has A Weird Thing With Swans
September 02, 2020 02:51 - 42 minutes - 38.7 MBIn the days before London found itself riddled with Rolodexes and Lamborghinis, the Crown controlled a now-obscure status symbol: the swan. Every single unmarked swan was the property of the Crown -- and woe betide those who touched a swan without express permission. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Introducing: 'Criminalia'
August 28, 2020 13:00 - 2 minutesHumans have always committed crimes. What can we learn from the criminals and crimes of the past, and have humans gotten better or worse over time? Criminalia is brought to you by Shondaland Audio and iHeartRadio and new episodes release every Tuesday. Listen on the iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
The Nazi Super Horse Program, Part 2: A Horse-filled Heist
August 27, 2020 23:04 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBAs the tide of war turns toward the inevitable defeat of the Nazis, the staff of the secret horse farm fear the oncoming, starving Russian forces will consume their prized Lippizaner horses. In desperation, the farm turns to an unlikely source for help -- the US Army. Tune in as Ben and Noel explore the strange story of the Nazi super horse program. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Nazi Super Horse Program, Part 1: Equine Eugenics
August 25, 2020 23:19 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBAdolf Hitler was inarguably a terrible person. He was also weirdly focused on resurrecting Germany's horse industry. Tune in as Ben and Noel explore the strange story of the Nazi super horse program. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Railroad Tycoons Decided What Time It Is Now
August 21, 2020 03:36 - 37 minutes - 34.2 MBNowadays the world is divided into a series of 'time zones.' Yet before the 1880s, towns across the United States ran on a sort of local time -- when you left one town, you often traveled slowly enough to adjust, without much hassle, to the new time in the next community. So, where did this concept of standardized time come from? Spoiler alert: Desperate railroad companies. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...
Why do people 'christen' ships with champagne?
August 19, 2020 03:31 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBWe've all heard about the practice of smashing a champagne bottle against the hull of a ship before launching it -- but where does this practice come from? Join the guys as they delve into the surprisingly ancient practice of commemorating ship launches, from ancient Babylon to the modern day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Hidden History of Jewish Pirates, Part 2: Famous Privateers
August 14, 2020 03:58 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBDuring the age of European expansion, members of the Jewish diaspora traveled to Caribbean and the continents of North and South America, often escaping the intense persecution of the Inquisition. Some became merchants, others explorers -- and some became pirates. Join Ben and Noel as they explore the little-known stories of specific Jewish pirates and privateers that changed the course of history as we know it in the second part of this two-part series. Learn more about your ad-choices at...
The Hidden History of Jewish Pirates, Part 1: Escaping Europe
August 11, 2020 22:43 - 21 minutes - 19.3 MBDuring the age of European expansion, members of the Jewish diaspora traveled to Caribbean and the continents of North and South America, often escaping the intense persecution of the Inquisition. Some became merchants, others explorers -- and some became pirates. Join Ben and Noel as they explore the little-known stories of these pirates and privateers, and why Jamaica became known as a haven for those fleeing European persecution. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpod...
Ridiculous "Remedies" of the Spanish Flu: The Rise of the Lemon
August 07, 2020 02:11 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBHave you ever used a home remedy when under the weather? Some, like honey and lemon (and whiskey) for a sore throat, remain common today. In 2020, other treatments people once swore by seem -- I hesitate to say it -- ridiculous. In the early 20th century, people were desperate to find a cure or treatment for the flu. They tried any number of things that may seem bizarre today, and part of that panic led to the lemon becoming a household staple across the United States. Learn more about you...
That Time Rebellious Freemasons Starting Kissing Porcelain Pug Butts
August 04, 2020 19:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBWe've all heard about Freemasons -- but what about the Order of the Pug? Join the guys as they explore the strange series of events that led German Masons to create their own secret society, embodied by a porcelain sculpture of a pug. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Clever Hans, Part 2: The Rise and Fall of Hans
July 30, 2020 16:45 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBUnconvinced by claims of this horse's mathematical acumen, psychologist Oskar Pfungst conducted a series of experiments to determine whether Clever Hans was actually solving problems. Pfungst discovered there were serious issues with Hans's 'performance' ... but he also, in a roundabout way, ended up proving Hans was, in some ways, more clever than the average person. Ben also pitches a stunning conclusion to a (fake) movie about Hans's life post-fame. Learn more about your ad-choices at h...
Clever Hans, Part 1: The Equine Mathematician
July 28, 2020 21:47 - 30 minutes - 28.4 MBBack in the early 20th century, retired teacher Wilhelm von Osten had a dream -- to exhibit the gifts of his brilliant horse, Clever Hans, to the world. Wilhelm believed Hans was capable of solving pretty advanced math problems, working out the sums in his head and communicating them to humans through a system of hooftaps. And Clever Hans took the German public by storm -- what could this mean? If animals like Hans were this intelligent, could they also have a consciousness or a soul? Some p...
Henry VIII and That English Sweat, Part 2: A Disease and a King
July 23, 2020 18:43 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBWhile history often only remembers Henry VIII as a real pill, he was also a profound hypochondriac -- and, rightly terrified of contracting the English Sweats, Henry hightailed it to a series of safehouses as he sought to isolate himself from any possible infection. Join the guys as they continue exploring the long-term consequences of the mysterious English Sweats. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Henry VIII and That English Sweat, Part 1: A Pandemic
July 22, 2020 01:00 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBBeginning in 1485, a mysterious disease swept in waves across England. No one was sure how it spread, no treatment existed, and the disease took the name of its most memorable symptom. The English sweating sickness seemed to have a taste for the wealthy, and the bulk of fatalities were English. The last widespread outbreak of sweating sickness was reported in 1551 -- after that, the disease vanished. Along the way, it made a king of Henry VIII. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://w...
The Hobo King: Leon Ray Livingston, Chapter Two
July 17, 2020 02:21 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBAs the Great Depression devastates the nation, roughly 2 million people find themselves out of home and hope, migrating toward distant promises of jobs, distant family members -- some distant idea of a better life. The concept of the 'hobo' becomes a mainstream concern. Leon Ray Livingston warns about living a life "on the road." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Hobo King: Leon Ray Livingston, Chapter One
July 15, 2020 01:55 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBBorn in San Francisco, an 11-year-old ran away from home, living and writing about his travels. Hailed as a self-coronated 'Hobo King,' Livingston made his own mythology, creating tropes that survive in the modern day. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Vikings Made a Fortune in the 'Unicorn' Trade
July 09, 2020 22:12 - 45 minutes - 41.6 MBNowadays, experts and equestrians alike largely agree: unicorns are creatures of myth. But, not too long ago, the wealthiest people in Europe would pay top dollar for everything from powdered 'unicorn' dust, to fragments or full specimens of 'unicorn' horn, convinced these supernatural relics had curative powers, capable of saving them from poison. So what was really going on here? Join the guys as they delve into the strange story of the unicorn trade, bust some Viking myths and shoutout th...
Did People Really Throw Tar And Feathers On Each Other?
July 07, 2020 21:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBIt's true -- people used to throw tar on other people, then shake feathers on them as a specific form of legally-sanctioned punishment. Where did the concept of tarring and feathering a person actually come from, and how did it spread throughout the world? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Kate Warne, the Pinkerton Detective Who Saved Abe Lincoln, Part 2: To Rescue A President
July 02, 2020 22:34 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBWhile Kate Warne had numerous adventures (and brilliantly solved multiple high-profile cases), her most well-known work with pinkerton involved none other than Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States. In the conclusion of special two-part series, the guys continue exploring Kate Warne's adventures with Jo Piazza, the award-winning author, journalist, and host of the new podcast, Fierce. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio...
Kate Warne, the Pinkerton Detective Who Saved Abe Lincoln, Part 1: The Origin Story
July 01, 2020 00:31 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBKate Warne wasn't just the first female private investigator in the US -- she was also one of the best Pinkerton detectives in the history of the agency. In this special two-part series, the guys join forces with award-winning author and journalist, Jo Piazza, the host of Fierce, to learn more about the mysterious origins of the one and only Kate Warne. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
What is Fudge, Part 2: The Rebellion
June 25, 2020 09:00 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBThe students of Vassar thrived despite a system of Victorian -- near Orwellian -- control. In a time when these college students were not allowed to have agency over their own diet, they rebelled, popularizing the confection known as fudge today. Other students at elite institutions joined in, and soon contemporaneous newspapers noted fudge as both a desert and a rebellion against prevailing social norms. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystud...
What is Fudge, Part I: The Science, The Curious Name
June 23, 2020 22:00 - 31 minutesNowadays, most people in the global West associate fudge with the idea of a homemade, homely confection. Yet once upon a time, this dangerously delightful, sugar-laden snack was the domain of the elite. Learn more about the origin of fudge here -- and tune in for part two of our series: Fudge As Rebellion. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
What is Fudge, Part 1: The Science, The Curious Name
June 23, 2020 22:00 - 26 minutes - 24 MBNowadays, most people in the global West associate fudge with the idea of a homemade, homely confection. Yet once upon a time, this dangerously delightful, sugar-laden snack was the domain of the elite. Learn more about the origin of fudge here -- and tune in for part two of our series: Fudge As Rebellion. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The North Pole, Part 2: The Chase To The North
June 19, 2020 02:09 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MBThe Mercator Projection continues to inform explorers, many of whom send their own appropriative versions of the Mythical North. Join Ben, Casey and Noel as they ask: Who actually discovered the North Pole? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The North Pole, Part I: Maps and Legends
June 17, 2020 03:29 - 35 minutesIn 1569, Gerardus Mercator creates the first world map. It's the predecessor of the cartoonishly inaccurate Mercator projection, and this math guides people toward what they believe to be the North Pole. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://news.iheart.com/podcast-advertisers
The North Pole, Part 1: Maps and Legends
June 17, 2020 03:29 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBIn 1569, Gerardus Mercator creates the first world map. It's the predecessor of the cartoonishly inaccurate Mercator projection, and this math guides people toward what they believe to be the North Pole. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Mysterious Origin of (and Disturbing Problems with) the "Wolf Whistle"
June 12, 2020 01:50 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBIt's one of those iconic 'you know it when you hear it' sounds - the two-note whistle made famous in old Tex Avery cartoons and multiple films of yesteryear. But what is the wolf whistle? Where did it actually come from, and how did it go from being such a popular trope to something (thankfully) so rare in the modern day? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
World War I and the Rise of the Peat Moss Bandage
June 10, 2020 00:55 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBWar often drives innovation — often out of desperation. In World War I, doctors were overwhelmed and dangerously short on supplies, especially bandages. With no end in sight for the cotton shortage, ingenious doctors found an unlikely (and superior) alternative: peat moss. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Flashback: Unforeseen Consequences Throughout History: Part 2
June 05, 2020 03:09 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBHow did air conditioning fundamentally change the course of U.S. politics? What does the Y.M.C.A. have to do with cigarettes? Join Ben and Casey as they welcome special guest, Sean Braswell, to learn more about the strange stories of everything from air conditioning to kudzu in part two of this two-part series. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.