Ridiculous History
Episodes
CLASSIC: The Honorary Citizens of the United States
Who was the real John Henry?
From Slaves to Superpower: The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Janissaries
Hosts Ben Bull and Noel Brown explore the Janissaries, the Ottoman Empire’s elite slave soldiers.
CLASSIC: The Nature of Ephemera, with Alex Williams
Hosts Ben and Noel welcome Alex Williams to discuss his podcast, Ephemera, which explores fleeting historical moments.
Badass of the Week Returns, Part Two: Chesapeake Capes
Hosts Noel Brown and Max Williams welcome back guests Dr.
Badass of the Week Returns, Part One: George Rogers Clark
Hosts Max Chesapeake-Cape Williams and Ben Bolin are joined by Dr.
CLASSIC: That Time Ohio and Michigan Almost Went To War
Hosts Ben and Noel explore the "Toledo War," a 1835 border conflict between Ohio and the Michigan Territory over the valuable Toledo Strip.
The Ridiculously Inspiring Story of Free Public Restrooms, Part Two: The Rise of CEPTIA
Hosts Ben, Noel, and Max explore the absurd history of pay toilets in the US, focusing on SEPTIA, a grassroots movement founded by teenagers to abolish them.
The Ridiculously Inspiring Story of Free Public Restrooms, Part One: Everyone Has To Poop
Hosts Ben Bull and Noel Brown explore the history of public restrooms in the US, tracing their evolution from saloon amenities to segregated facilities.
CLASSIC: The Rise and Fall of Local Scrip: Alternative Currencies of the Great Depression
Hosts Ben and Noel explore the rise of local "script" currencies during the Great Depression, when communities created alternative money to bypass bank failures and cash shortages.
The Kingdom of Callaway: That Time One Missouri County (Sort Of, Maybe) Became An Independent Nation
The Ridiculous History of Saturday Morning Cartoons, Part Two: The Fall of a Grift
Hosts Ben Bolin and Noel Brown, joined by producer Max Williams, explore the decline of Saturday morning cartoons due to 1990s FCC regulations and the rise of cable networks.
CLASSIC: The Attack of the Japanese Balloon Bombs
Hosts Ben and Noel explore the bizarre history of Japanese balloon bombs, or Fugos, launched during World War II to ignite forest fires in the US.