Ridiculous History

iHeartPodcasts

History 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.

  • 36 minutes 42 seconds
    A Ton of Inventors Died Due To Their Own Inventions, Chapter Two: Li Si and the Five Pains

    The world is riddled with inventors whose discoveries led to their demise. Thomas Midgley, Jr. is the world's worst inventor. Marie Curie discovered radioactivity and it killed her. Li Si invented the torture method his Emperor would later use for his own execution. In the newest installment of this continuing series, Ben, Noel, and Max explore more stories of inventors who died as a result of their own discoveries.

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    22 January 2025, 1:36 am
  • 33 minutes 34 seconds
    CLASSIC: The 1904 Racist Summer Olympic Games in St. Louis

    A few years after Baron Pierre de Coubertin revived the ancient sporting event known as the Olympics, he brought the games to the U.S. for the first time. The 1904 Summer Olympics were held in St. Louis, Missouri, coinciding with the 1904 World's Fair. Seems set to make history, right? Not the way you'd think. Join Ben and Noel as they take a closer look at the series of disastrous decisions and bizarre notions that led one games organizer to set up his own racist olympics in this week's Classic episode.

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    18 January 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 44 minutes 53 seconds
    The Ridiculously Ambitious History of the World's Fair, Part Two: Things Don't Always Work Out

    On paper -- and, often, in practice -- the world's fair is an astonishing global showcase of groundbreaking innovations. However, as Ben, Noel and Max discover in the second part of this two-part series, not every world's fair has been a success. Tune in as the guys explore several ill-fated examples of expositions gone wrong in California and Louisiana.

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    16 January 2025, 3:51 pm
  • 47 minutes 17 seconds
    The Ridiculously Ambitious History of the World's Fair, Part One: A Crazy Plan, and Crazy Success

    Have you ever dreamed of going to a science fair as an adult? If so, the world's fair is for you -- these massive international exhibitions occur around the world, usually running for three to six months. And each world's fair include exhibits from a significant number of countries, inventors, and companies with new (potential) breakthroughs for society. In part one of this special two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore world's fair success stories -- along with a mysterious fire.

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    14 January 2025, 5:39 pm
  • 40 minutes 44 seconds
    CLASSIC: Why British Soccer Players Saluted the Nazis

    As global tensions grew to a breaking point in the lead-up to World War II, European nations used every available avenue to pursue their goals, including the propagandistic power of sporting events. Join Ben and Noel as they explore the strange geopolitical policy of appeasement -- and how it led British soccer players to salute Nazi officials -- in this week's Classic episode.

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    11 January 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 51 minutes 22 seconds
    How Dogs Went Domestic, Part Two: Yes, Dogs Know What You're Thinking

    Imagine: at multiple points in history, despite their ecological rivalry, a few humans and a few wolves teamed up for a greater good. Fast forward thousands of years, and boom: dogs. Also, modern humans. Yet: Who domesticated whom? In part two of this special two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the ridiculously inspiring story of humanity's best friend.

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    9 January 2025, 7:45 pm
  • 52 minutes 31 seconds
    How Dogs Went Domestic, Part One: Classic Rom-Com

    Most folks agree: dogs are awesome. So, how did ancient humans and wolves end up hanging out in the first place? In the first part of this two-part episode, the guys explore the ridiculous, inspiring origin of the human's best friend.

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    7 January 2025, 2:30 pm
  • 32 minutes 56 seconds
    CLASSIC: Why don't Americans use bidets?

    Whether you're royalty or a roaming vagrant, a President or a pauper, one thing's for sure: At some point, you'll have to use the restroom. While sanitation isn't often brought up in polite conversation, it plays a vital role in human health, and over the centuries various civilizations have come up with some pretty innovative ways of staying clean. Globally speaking, the bidet is one of humanity's most popular sanitation technologies -- it's spread across Europe to Asia and beyond. So why don't Americans use these? Join Ben and Noel as they crack the case in this Classic episode.

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    4 January 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 37 minutes 26 seconds
    CLASSIC: The Earliest Recorded Mooning Killed Thousands

    You've heard of mooning -- the practice of bearing one's butt as an insult -- but where did it come from? Join Ben and Noel as they dive into the deadly story of the world's first recorded mooning, along with some other notable moments in keister history.

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    2 January 2025, 12:00 pm
  • 40 minutes 56 seconds
    The Story of Claudette Colvin, with Nimene Wureh

    While most people today already know the inspiring story of Rosa Parks and her pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Riots, a lot of folks still don't know the story of Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old arrested nine months before Rosa Parks for the exact same reason: refusing to give up her seat on the bus in segregated Alabama. In today's special interview, Ben, Noel and Max explore this story with the one and only Nimene Wureh, the host of Historical Records, an family friendly, explosive blend of history and hip-hop. Spoiler: listen to the very end -- there's a surprise!

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    31 December 2024, 12:00 pm
  • 39 minutes 15 seconds
    CLASSIC: How did Fido become the default name for dogs?

    If you're like most English speakers, the first thing you think of when you hear the name "Fido" is, of course, a dog. But why? Join Ben and Noel as they delve into the story of Abraham Lincoln's favorite pooch, and how this little yellow pup became one of the first dog memes. (Also, please send us photos of your pooches. We're super into it.)

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    28 December 2024, 12:00 pm
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