Half-Arsed History

Riley Knight

A Very Serious History Podcast

  • 12 minutes 19 seconds
    Update: On Recent Episodes Being Late and a Few Other Things Too

    TL;DL: No episodes for the next week or so. I'm a little bit burnt out after a huge year, so I've been struggling to get episodes out on time. Solutions for 2026 forthcoming; apologies for the disruptions in the meantime.


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    2 December 2025, 8:44 am
  • 51 minutes 13 seconds
    Episode 388: Beatrix Potter, the Enterprising Author

    In this week's episode, get to know the remarkable Beatrix Potter, whose historical legacy goes a lot further than just the authorship of an immensely successful series of children's books.


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    2 December 2025, 8:23 am
  • 27 minutes 28 seconds
    Inventions Episode 48: The Pill

    The pill brought about a huge shift in the history of human civilisation, revolutionising the role of women in society, culture, politics, and economics.


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    29 November 2025, 7:22 am
  • 26 minutes 11 seconds
    QAH Episode 138: The Mad Trapper of Rat River

    Quarter-Arsed History presents: the tale of the Mad Trapper of Rat River, a mysterious figure who led the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on a month-long manhunt through the frozen wilderness.


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    28 November 2025, 3:17 am
  • 52 minutes 24 seconds
    Episode 387: Nations Named After People

    In this week's episode, hear about the history behind the names of five nations, all named after real historical figures.


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    27 November 2025, 9:26 am
  • 24 minutes 2 seconds
    Inventions Episode 47: Velcro

    Velcro - or, officially, the hook-and-loop fastener - is a useful little invention that we all still use today, and one that was popularised after helping us get to the Moon. 


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    26 November 2025, 5:36 am
  • 32 minutes 11 seconds
    QAH Episode 137: W.G. Grace, the Great Cricketer

    Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of W.G. Grace, one of the most famous cricketers from the 19th century, famous for his immense skill which helped to revolutionise the game. 


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    23 November 2025, 11:15 am
  • 54 minutes 12 seconds
    Episode 386: The History of the Ashes

    In this episode, get across the origin and history of a fierce century-and-a-half sporting rivalry, brought to life whenever Australia face off against England in Test cricket: the Ashes.


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    22 November 2025, 1:35 am
  • 20 minutes 32 seconds
    Inventions Episode 46: The Microwave Oven

    The microwave oven came about due to a very lucky accident involving an electrical engineer and chocolate bar, and today is found in billions of homes worldwide.


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    16 November 2025, 5:16 am
  • 24 minutes 19 seconds
    QAH Episode 136: The Petrov Affair

    Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Petrov Affair, when two Soviet spies caused a major political upheaval by defecting to Australia in the 1950s.


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    12 November 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 57 minutes 23 seconds
    Episode 385: The 1975 Australian Constitutional Crisis

    In this week's episode, hear the story of the Dismissal: the 1975 Australian Constitutional Crisis, when Prime Minister Gough Whitlam was turfed out by the governor-general.


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    9 November 2025, 1:00 pm
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