Podcast Episodes

Episode 390: The Miracle Landing of the Gimli Glider

Episode 10390

In this week's episode, hear the incredible tale of Air Canada Flight 143, when a Boeing 767 ran out of fuel mid-flight and so had to be flown and landed as a glider on a not-quite-abandoned airfield…

Published on 13 hours ago

Inventions Episode 50: The Global Positioning System

Episode 40050

The Global Positioning System began as top-secret military technology, before a series of interesting (and some tragic) events opened up a world of convenience and logistical optimisation to the worl…

Published on 4 days, 14 hours ago

QAH Episode 140: A Brief History of Morse Code

Episode 20140

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of Morse code, an encoding and transmission system that helped to transform long-distance communication in the mid 19th-century.

Hosted on Acast. See …

Published on 5 days, 13 hours ago

Episode 389: The First Transatlantic Telegraph Cable

Episode 10389

In this week's episode, hear about the series of ridiculous setbacks and disasters that took place as part of the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable, a revolutionary step forward in gl…

Published on 6 days, 9 hours ago

Inventions Episode 49: The Personal Computer

Episode 40049

The personal computer is an invention that defines the modern information age, a deeply entrenched part of daily life for billions of people all around the world. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv…

Published on 1 week, 4 days ago

QAH Episode 139: The SS Princess Alice Disaster

Episode 20139

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the story of the SS Princess Alice Disaster, when hundreds of people drowned in raw sewage after two ships collided on the River Thames.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.co…

Published on 2 weeks, 2 days ago

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 disrup…

Published on 3 weeks, 5 days ago

Episode 388: Beatrix Potter, the Enterprising Author

Episode 10388

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.

Hosted o…

Published on 3 weeks, 5 days ago

Inventions Episode 48: The Pill

Episode 40048

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

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m…

Published on 4 weeks, 1 day ago

QAH Episode 138: The Mad Trapper of Rat River

Episode 20138

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.

Hosted …

Published on 1 month ago