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Ridiculous History
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Content provided by iHeartPodcasts. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by iHeartPodcasts or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
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.
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862 episodes
Mark all (un)played …
Manage series 2148552
Content provided by iHeartPodcasts. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by iHeartPodcasts or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://player.fm/legal.
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.
…
continue reading
862 episodes
All episodes
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Ridiculous History
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1 CLASSIC: The FBI's Quest to Understand "Louie, Louie" 47:12
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The Kingsmen's cover of "Louie, Louie" is one of the world's most famously unintelligible songs -- and this haunted the FBI. In this episode, Ben and Noel recount the evolution of "Louie, Louie", as well as Uncle Sam's insanely thorough (and hilariously unsuccessful) attempt to figure out the song's lyrics. The guys also rack up some extra credit with their special guest Christopher Hassiotis, who introduces them to the wide, wide world of "Louie, Louie" cover songs across multiple musical genres. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 CLASSIC: The Time a Soviet Premier Was Banned From Disneyland 43:54
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At the height of the Cold War a series of debates in a model kitchen in Moscow (true story!) led Nikita Khrushchev to visit the US on a whirlwind publicity tour. The Soviet leader hobnobbed with politicians, celebrities and business tycoons, soaking up all that America had to offer, often with a few choice remarks along the way. However, there was one place he wasn't allowed to enter: Disneyland. Join Ben and Noel as they take a closer look at Khrushchev's doomed quest to meet America's most famous mouse. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 That Time Japan Absolutely Rinsed Russia, Part Two: The Togo Turn 38:01
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As Japan corners Russian forces in Port Arthur, the Tsar sends a new fleet of ships on a 7-month journey to break the barricade. In a stunning battle that alters the course of history, Japanese Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō executes a brilliant series of manuevers that remain some of the most thoroughly-studied maritime tactics in the entirety of naval history. In the second part of this week's two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore how Japan absolutely waxed the great Russian Empire in a conflict that, despite its short lifespan, fundamentally altered the course of the world overall. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 That Time Japan Absolutely Rinsed Russia, Part One: The Race For Manchuria 35:24
35:24
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Two Empires. One region, in tenuous balance. While often forgotten in the modern day, the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 was a pivotal turning point in early 20th century geopolitics. On one side, the vast Russian Empire: having established control over Siberia, Nicholas II seeks to secure outlets to the Pacific. On the other side of the conflict, an expansionist Japan rushes headlong toward modernity and empire. Something has to give. In the first part of this week's two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the massive consequences of the Russo-Japanese war, and how the consequences of this conflict resonate in the modern day. (Spoiler, neither empire bothered to ask the actual people of Manchuria for their opinion.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 CLASSIC: Kidnapping, Binge Drinking and Costumes: Voter Fraud in the 1800s 33:59
33:59
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Allegations of U.S. voter fraud have made the rounds in recent years -- but, once upon a time, these were much more than allegations. Join the guys as they explore the massive voting fraud operations that riddled U.S. politics throughout the 19th century in this week's Classic episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 Victorians Got Super Weird With Flirting, Part Two: Courtship and Calling Cards 37:10
37:10
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Cast your mind back to the Victorian Era, when countless singles and would-be paramours struggled to circumvent strict social mores in the search for true love. In the second part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max continue their exploration of Victorian Era, conspiratorial methods -- especially the infamous 'acquaintance card.' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 Victorians Got Super Weird With Flirting, Part One: "Fan Fiction" 41:26
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The Victorian Era was, on the surface, a time of almost cartoonish sexual repression. Courtship was governed by rigid sets of rules and heirarchy, and even meeting a prospective partner outside of these codified steps could be considered a breach of cultural mores. So, what's a lover to do? In the first part of this two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the conspiratorial, ridiculous ways people flirted in the Victorian Era. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 Why did people hate the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge? 31:30
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Nowadays most people are fans of national parks, but this wasn't always the case. Join the guys as they delve into the strange "birds vs. babies" conflict over Lake Malheur. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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1 First Ladies Who Weren't Wives, Part One: The Niece Will Have To Do 40:38
40:38
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For more than two hundred years, the American public has elected not just a president, but a family. While the position of First Lady of the United States is not outlined in the Constitution, you literally cannot be the President without someone at your side. As a result, the position of FLOTUS wields immense, subtle power -- often in ways the public does not understand. In the first part of this continuing series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the intricate, bizarre -- dare we say, ridiculous -- stories of people who quietly saved the world while a president took credit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 Some of History's Funniest Honorifics, Part One: The Babymaker, the Debauchee, and More 39:44
39:44
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Honorifics are perhaps best described as the fancier version of nicknames, with some of the same familiar rules: just like nicknames, you don't get to give yourself an honorific. And, again, just like nicknames, not all honorifics are particularly flattering. What do we mean? Join Ben, Noel and Max to learn more about ridiculous honorifics in today's episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 IP, Part Two: The Baffling World of Trademarks 49:33
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What does it mean to own an idea, a brand, a catchphrase or a concept? In part two of their continuing exploration of the weird world of intellectual property, the guys suss out what exactly is (or isn't) a trademark, and why people still find it so confusing in the modern day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 A Ton of Inventors Died Due To Their Own Inventions, Chapter Two: Li Si and the Five Pains 36:42
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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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 CLASSIC: The 1904 Racist Summer Olympic Games in St. Louis 33:34
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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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 The Ridiculously Ambitious History of the World's Fair, Part Two: Things Don't Always Work Out 44:53
44:53
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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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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1 The Ridiculously Ambitious History of the World's Fair, Part One: A Crazy Plan, and Crazy Success 47:17
47:17
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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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…
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