Podcast Episodes

The Deeply Weird Stories of Patron Saints

Did you know there’s a Patron Saint of (repentant) murderers? And another one for ugly people? In today’s episode, Ben, Noel and Max explore how some Catholic Saints became the holy intercessors for …

Published on 2 years, 9 months ago

Svetlana! Svetlana! The Strange Life of Josef Stalin's Daughter, with Dan Kitrosser

As the daughter of Josef Stalin, it's safe to say Svetlana Iosifovna Alliluyeva was never destined for a normal life. Still, no one could have predicted the bizarre globe-trotting adventures she woul…

Published on 2 years, 10 months ago

Let's Start a Coup! Ep 1 – A Basket Full of Fascists

Season 1 Episode 1

Nowadays, most people can agree that fascism is, well, a bad thing. But back in the 1930s, life absolutely sucked for most Americans, and fascism still had a sort of new car smell. Wall Street banker…

Published on 2 years, 10 months ago

Weird Epidemics, Part One: From Sweating to Pokemon

What makes people laugh uncontrollably, for hours at a time? Whatever happened to that 'Sweating Sickness,' and why did so many parents in Japan become convinced their children might die if those kid…

Published on 2 years, 10 months ago

CLASSIC: When Scientists Hid Under Beds To Spy On Kids

Let's say you're a scientist -- how far would you go to carry out a study? Back in the 1930s, two intrepid researchers went into full spy mode, stalking college students in an effort to determine how…

Published on 2 years, 10 months ago

Surprising Former Careers, Part III: Goldberg, Trudeau and Buscemi

While many celebrities and public figures are known for achievements in just a few specific fields, almost everyone has had more than a few odd jobs on the way to fame. Before she became a legendary …

Published on 2 years, 10 months ago

Introducing: The Last Soviet

Hey, Ridiculous History listeners! The newest hit docuseries of another star-studded podcast, The Last Soviet is live. Go check out the beginning of this thrilling journey with Lance Bass, NSync Supe…

Published on 2 years, 10 months ago

It Turns Out Blue Laws Aren't Entirely Terrible

If you've ever tried to buy beer at the wrong time in certain parts of the US, you may have run into the odd proscriptions known as blue laws. Originally intended as a way of enforcing Christian reli…

Published on 2 years, 10 months ago

The Origin of Moby Dick, Part Two: Horrors At Sea

Captain George Pollard Jr. was just 29 years old when his whaling vessel, the Essex, met with disaster. As the hapless crew struggled (and largely failed) to survive their horrific time at sea, they …

Published on 2 years, 10 months ago

The Origin of Moby Dick, Part One: Mocha Dick

Today, Herman Melville's magnum opus Moby Dick is lauded as a classic of American literature -- but it turns out Melville didn't invent the whole thing on his own. In the first part of this special t…

Published on 2 years, 10 months ago