Podcast Episodes

Introducing: Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

Hi Ridiculous History Fans! Take a listen to the trailer of our newest show Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

About the show: Sixteenth Minute (of Fame) is a weekly show from Jamie Loftus that takes a close…

Published on 1 year, 6 months ago

Skyscrapers, Part Two: An Arms Race to the Sky

Once society became convinced that you could build skyscrapers without them immediately collapsing, cities across the United States -- and, soon the world -- scrambled to build their own structures. …

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Skyscrapers, Part One: A Guy and a Birdcage

Skyscrapers are beautiful -- and utterly ridiculous. In the first part of this two-part episode, Ben, Noel and Max learn how modern skyscrapers were largely inspired by one guy who, no kidding, saw a…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

CLASSIC: The Wild West Was Actually Pretty Chill

If you're like most people, the phrase "Wild West" conjures images of brutal gunfights in dusty, tumbleweed-ridden streets, visions of criminals slinking into the shadows of dimly-lit saloons and the…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

On Theme, Part Two: The Cyclical Evolution of Music

As Ernest Hogan reaches new heights of success, critics turn against ragtime and "coon songs," prompting a larger conversation about the cyclical nature of music and society. In the second installmen…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

On Theme, Part One: Ernest Hogan's Success and Regret

Today the world agrees minstrel shows were horrific, weaponized stereotypes meant to dehumanize people. But not too long ago, minstrel shows and the related "coon songs" were some of the most popular…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

CLASSIC: How A Grudge Match Launched the Ford GT40

Today the Ford GT40 is one of the world's most iconic vehicles -- but this award winning automotive beast is, it turns out, the result of a serious grudge match. Join Ben, Noel and the gang as they d…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

The QWERTY Keyboard is Purposely Bad

If you're like most folks in the West, your laptop and phone use something called the QWERTY keyboard, named for the six letters at the upper left of the board. At first glance, this layout makes no …

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

Auction Houses: It's Not *All* Money Laundering

We've all heard of auction houses. Nowadays, these are often best-known as specialized institutions catering to international institutions and a small percentage of the obscenely wealthy -- but how d…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago

CLASSIC: "Vitamin Donuts" Were A Real Thing

Donuts: they're sweet, delectable and dangerous. Nowadays they're best known as a sugary snack or a nice accompaniment to a cup of coffee, but this wasn't always the case. In fact, for a few years ma…

Published on 1 year, 7 months ago