Podcast Episodes

QAH Episode 122: The Festival of the Supreme Being

Episode 20122

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Festival of the Supreme Being, the unhinged religious festival put on by Maxilimilien Robespierre as he attempted to establish the ludicrous brand-new religion he'…

Published on 1 month, 1 week ago

History's Strangest Deaths is Out Now!

Half-Arsed History's first book, History's Strangest Deaths, is now available at all good bookstores, and probably some bad ones as well. You can buy a paper version, an ebook version, or an audioboo…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Episode 371: The French Revolution - Part 5: The Directory

Episode 10371

In this week's episode, get across the final chapter in the tale of the French Revolution: the broad political failure that was the French Directory, the collapse of which represented the end of the …

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Inventions Episode 31: The Sewing Machine

Episode 40031

The sewing machine is a piece of technology that has had an outsized historical influence - not just on the textile industry, but on society, culture, and history as well.

History's Strangest Deaths, …

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

QAH Episode 121: A Brief History of the Guillotine

Episode 20121

Quarter-Arsed History presents: a brief history of the guillotine, a device popularised during the French Revolution, responsible for the deaths of countless thousands during the Reign of Terror. 

His…

Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago

Episode 370: The French Revolution - Part 4: The Terror

Episode 10370

In this week's episode, get across the darkest and bloodiest chapter in French revolutionary history: the Reign of Terror, which saw tens of thousands of people killed by political violence.

History's…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Inventions Episode 30: The Friction Match

Episode 40030

The friction match and its subsequent developments helped to democratise fire - matches have made it possible for anyone, at any time, to make use of one of humanity's most important tools, fire. 

His…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Tickets for the 2025 Book Tour are now available!

Join me in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Maroochydore as I go through some of the stories from History's Strangest Deaths, and share juicy behind-the-scenes details about how the book was made. Do…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

QAH Episode 120: The Man in the Iron Mask

Episode 20120

Quarter-Arsed History presents: the Man in the Iron Mask, a mysterious prisoner of the French king Louis XIV, who was imprisoned for 34 years without anyone ever learning his true identity. 

History's…

Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago

Episode 369: The French Revolution - Part 3: The Constitution

Episode 10369

In this week's episode, understand some of the most important legacies of the French Revolution as it worked to establish a constitutional monarchy, before the ultimate abolition of the monarchy and …

Published on 1 month, 4 weeks ago