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Ridiculous History

iHeartPodcasts
World War II
Boeing
Calvin Coolidge
Camouflage
Guinness World Records
History Of World Records
Breeching
William Howard Taft
Stan Hugel
Tecumseh
Norris and Ross Mcwhirter
Sir Hugh Beaver
William Henry Harrison
Class and Economy
Gender Roles
John Neal
Children's Clothing
Marketing
Baseball Caps
Warren G Harding

History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1007Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Latest Episodes

Here's one for the cat lovers: Does your feline friend absolutely love catnip? If you have a cat with the right sensitivities, this stuff completely rocks their world. They'll go nuts for it, rolling around in the stuff, chewing it, drooling in a stu... more

In this week's Classic episode, the guys return to a strange, oft-overlooked aspect of the Civil War. From 1861 to 1865, the United States of America was a country divided. More than a century later, it remains America's bloodiest war. After the cess... more

Have you ever taken an IQ test? Originally envisioned as a way to determine which French children should be locked in asylums, Alfred Binet's attempt to quantify human intelligence took the modern world by storm. Yet, as Ben, Noel and Max ask in this... more

Don't do lead, kids! Nowadays everyone knows the dangers this substance poses to humans -- especially children in their formative years -- but back in the day, lead was everywhere. Ancient Rome was riddled with the stuff, using lead in everything fro... more

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Recent Guests

Frank Mulherin
Friend of the show, contributor to idioms segment
Independent
Episode: CLASSIC: Idiomatic for the People II, Part I: What's in a word?
Aaron Tracy
Award-winning writer and founder of Parallax, also the creator of The Secret World of Roald Dahl
Parallax
Episode: The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, with Aaron Tracy, Part Two: the Man Behind the Author
Tom Freston
Co-founder of MTV and author of 'Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu'
MTV
Episode: Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu, with Tom Freston
Katie Goldin
Host of Creature Feature, who discusses animal behavior
Creature Feature
Episode: CLASSIC: Clara, The World's Most Famous Rhinoceros
Jake Brennan
Podcaster, author, and creator of Disgraceland Podcast
Disgraceland Podcast
Episode: The Grim Christmas Folklore of Johnny Ace, with Jake Brennan
Rowan Newbie
Podcaster, producer, and musician
Pitches Podcast
Episode: CLASSIC: Idiomatic For The People, Part I
Dr. Priyanka Wali
Double board-certified physician
Episode: Introducing: Health Stuff
Casey Peggrim
Producer and contributor to the discussion
Episode: CLASSIC: Were Tulips Really The Bitcoin of the 1600s?
Rachel Lance
Author and expert in underwater physiology
Episode: The Terrifying Science of Tiny Subs and D-Day, Part Two: The Rise of the Chamber Divers

Hosts

Ben Bowlin
Host of Ridiculous History with a focus on engaging storytelling and humor; active researcher and co-host in most episodes.
Noel Brown
Co-host and researcher known for presenting with wit and contributing to the show's banter and historical narratives.
Max Williams
Producer and research support, instrumental in shaping episode structure and ensuring content accuracy.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 7.1k ratings
  • Are you sure?

    If you like commercials, tangents and boring banter, this is for you. Their best resource is Google.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    LBo153
    Canada19 days ago
  • Ziz guy iz a ***! ****!!!! ******!

    Jerk of 🔫🙋🏻‍♂️🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Hitler :)
    United Statesa month ago
  • Money Much?

    Your puns are lame and you obviously don’t care who hand you ad money or why. Irresponsible.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    portokalopita
    United Statesa month ago
  • Less Bias/ More History

    Was hoping to just hear some fun history, instead more anti-American rhetoric from those who benefit from living in America. It’s getting old. Just share “ridiculous history”

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    jestate22
    United Statesa month ago
  • Like a hitter in baseball

    It’s easy to skip more than half of them when they bat .300 regularly.

    Ben is enjoyable in his enthusiasm, although often it gets too precious or childish.

    Noel is almost unlistenable. He pontificates while being confidently incorrect most of the time which always merits a laugh. Plus the irony of him denigrating people for being specific about pronunciation, while he is unable to pronounce the most basic foreign words merits an eye roll every episode. When he tries to be creative or drama... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Geeseherder
    United States2 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many enjoy the wide range of quirky topics and the entertaining storytelling.
Feedback is mixed on pacing and ads, with some wishing for tighter content and fewer interruptions.
Listeners appreciate the banter and humor that make history approachable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#32
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#56
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#81
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#132
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#81
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#93
Australia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, with Aaron Tracy, Part Two: the Man Behind the Author
Q: What do we hope our listeners take away from The Secret World of Roald Dahl?
I hope people gain insight into Dahl's interesting life and understand the tragedies and contradictions of his character, inspiring sympathy despite his flaws.
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, Part One: A "Noisy" Life
Q: How do you feel about your kids reading Roald Dahl?
It's complicated because I see no outright bigotry in the text, though it's concerning due to Dahl's controversial views.
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, Part One: A "Noisy" Life
Q: Do you have a favorite Roald Dahl book?
I love Matilda, but Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is another favorite from my childhood.
The Secret World Of Roald Dahl, Part One: A "Noisy" Life
Q: What drew you to Roald Dahl in particular, out of all the people that you could have done a deep dive on?
Roald Dahl shaped many childhoods, but nobody knows much about his life, leading to an obsession with his noisy past.
Unplugged: Adventures from MTV to Timbuktu, with Tom Freston
Q: What advice would you give yourself if you could travel in time?
Freston encouraged young people to take risks, travel, and gather experiences rather than conforming to traditional career paths right after school.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Ridiculous History

What is Ridiculous History about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A humor-inflected history show that explores strange, surprising, and often ridiculous chapters from the past. Episodes blend storytelling, etymology, quirky anecdotes, and skeptical perspectives to reveal how language, culture, and historical events intersect in unexpected ways. Highlights include explorations of idioms, spiritualism, national anthems, and famous symbols, all delivered with banter, pop-culture nods, and light-hearted curiosity. The format often features a mix of hosts and guests who contribute research, wit, and different angles on how history sneaks into everyday life. It's likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy learning oddball facts, accessible storytelling, and playful debates about cultural myths.

Noteworthy strengt... more

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How many listeners does Ridiculous History get?

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How many subscribers and views does Ridiculous History have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ridiculous History has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Ridiculous History?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ridiculous History:

1. Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
2. Stuff You Should Know
3. Stuff To Blow Your Mind
4. Stuff You Missed in History Class
5. Useless Information Podcast

How many episodes of Ridiculous History are there?

Ridiculous History launched 8 years ago and published 1007 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Ridiculous History?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for Ridiculous History?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Ridiculous History from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Ridiculous History?

Recent guests on Ridiculous History include:

1. Frank Mulherin
2. Aaron Tracy
3. Tom Freston
4. Katie Goldin
5. Jake Brennan
6. Rowan Newbie
7. Dr. Priyanka Wali
8. Casey Peggrim

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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