Podcast Episodes
Back to Search
The Ridiculous Origin of the the Word "Ridiculous"
With nearly one thousand episodes out in the world over the years, Ben, Noel and Max realized they've never asked about the origin of the word "ridiculous." In this rollicking, cartoonishly meta epis…
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago
CLASSIC: Dr. Seuss Wrote His Most Famous Book On A Bet
What are your favorite children's books? In this Classic episode, Ben and the gang acknowledge Dr. Seuss is one of the most well-known writers on the planet. "Green Eggs and Ham", one of his most suc…
Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago
The Terrifying Science of Tiny Subs and D-Day, Part Two: The Rise of the Chamber Divers
As Axis powers swarm across Europe in the lead-up to D-Day, a small group of scientists refuse to leave their lab, throwing a fair amount of modern ethics out the window (or the sub, if you like) as …
Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago
The Terrifying Science of Tiny Subs and D-Day, Part One: The Return of Dr. Rachel "Big Spinach" Lance
Years after their initial conversation with the world's foremost expert on underwater explosions, Ben still sings the praises of Dr. Rachel "Big Spinach" Lance. In the first part of this special two-…
Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago
CLASSIC: Feral Children and the True Story Behind The Jungle Book
Now, let's be honest. Rudyard Kipling was a cartoonishly problematic guy. Yet his work made a permanent impression on global literature -- and, to a surprising degree, he based a lot of his writing o…
Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago
Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: The Colossus of Rhodes
Imagine you're an ancient traveler, visiting Rhodes for the first time in 280 BCE. As you approach the famed city, a singular object dominates the horizon: a huge statue of the Greek sun god Helios, …
Published on 1 month, 4 weeks ago
Unlucky Numbers Across The Globe -- And Why They Are Ridiculous
Do you have a number you love, or a number you hate? As Ben, Noel and Max discover in today's episode, people have always assigned symbolic meaning to the everpresent existence of math -- and created…
Published on 2 months ago
CLASSIC: The Ridiculously Laxative-laden Journey of Lewis and Clark
In today's Classic episode, Ben and Noel reluctantly sing the praises of poop research. You see, folks, before Lewis and Clark set out to explore the western side of the continent, they tried to prep…
Published on 2 months ago
Moon Rock Heists, Part Two: The Romantic Misadventures of Thad Roberts
Let's say you're a love-struck NASA intern -- your professional career holds a lot of promise, but your family life back home is in shambles... and you fall in love with a fellow intern. How can you …
Published on 2 months ago
Moon Rock Heists, Part One: Lunatic Heists and Space Law
Is it legal to own a moon rock? Well... that depends. If it's a piece of the moon that made it to Earth naturally, then all good. If, however, it's a sample retrieved on purpose by NASA's Apollo prog…
Published on 2 months ago