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Artwork for Ridiculous History

Ridiculous History

iHeartPodcasts
World War II
Fad Diets
Father's Day
Napoleonic Wars
Fantasy Sports
Kentucky Meat Shower
Ice Cream Sundae
Tree That Owns Itself
Morse Code
Samuel Morse
United States
Diets
Gambling
Zombies
Elvis Presley
Atari
Coca-Cola
H.P. Lovecraft
Japan
Victorian Era

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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1059Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Latest Episodes

Nowadays, ice cream is a pretty popular treat across the planet. In this episode -- at the height of a blistering Atlanta summer -- Ben, Noel and Max learn more ice cream's kissing cousin: the 'soft serve'. Where did it come from? What makes it such ... more

Did you know you can become an honorary citizen of the United States? It's true -- but it isn't easy. Join the guys as they explore the life and times of the rare few who managed to become honorary citizens in the United States.

See omnystudio.com/l... more

For well over a century, schoolchildren across the United States learned the story of John Henry. According to the legend, John was a formerly enslaved man who found work with a railroad after the Civil War. Widely known as the best steel driver in t... more

While often forgotten by the global West, the Ottoman Empire was an absolute superpower in its heyday. As the Empire expanded across three separate continents, they also practiced mass enslavement -- and used it to power their army. In today's episod... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Alex Williams
Creator of Ephemeral, podcaster
Ephemeral
Episode: CLASSIC: The Nature of Ephemera, with Alex Williams
Pat Larash
Returning guest, co-host of The Actual Facts Badass of the Week podcast
Badass of the Week / The Actual Facts
Episode: Badass of the Week Returns, Part Two: Chesapeake Capes
Christopher Haciotus
Guest Historian who filled in on the episode
Ridiculous History / guest historian
Episode: CLASSIC: Marie Antoinette and the Diamond Necklace Hoax
Christopher Haciotis
Returning special guest
Ridiculous Historians community / guest on the episode
Episode: CLASSIC: How the Black Death Came To Norway On A Ghost Ship
Jabari Davis
Research associate who led the research brief for this episode
Ridiculous History
Episode: A Samurai Walks Into The White House
Miles Gray
Co-host of The Daily Zeitgeist
The Daily Zeitgeist
Episode: CLASSIC: History's Weirdest Flexes, Part One
Jack O'Brien
Co-host of The Daily Zeitgeist
The Daily Zeitgeist
Episode: CLASSIC: History's Weirdest Flexes, Part One
Jordan Runtagh
Music journalist, writer, executive producer
IHeart / Ridiculous History
Episode: The Bizarre Life of Elvis, Part One: From Poverty to Pop Stardom
Matt Frederick
Returning guest, expert on pirate history
Episode: The Ridiculous Truth About Pirates, Chapter Two: History's Most Successful Pirate Was A Woman

Hosts

Ben Bowlin
Host of Ridiculous History
Noel Brown
Co-host of Ridiculous History

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 7.2k ratings
  • Has become unlistenable

    Before the anti-Americanism, the leftist political spewing, I liked thi podcast.

    It has become unlistenable. It’s kinda ironic that country based off capitalism has allowed you to put this podcast out there and profit from it is something you wish to destroy. I’m done.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    friocat
    United States5 days ago
  • I like it

    Just a note though, “the ____ you’ve never heard of” comes across as really condescending towards your listeners.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Kaydoggo
    United States15 days ago
  • Gud

    5/5, definitely a podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Potator the magnificent
    United Statesa month ago
  • First Timer

    I asked AI for a list of quirky history podcasts and, well, a somewhat lighthearted take on the Taiping Rebellion certainly fit the bill. Will definitely be adding to my pod playlist.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ZenRugger
    United States2 months ago
  • Gen Z ex-gf

    Dude sounds really sour about being dumped - also, it is super millennial to say “we contain multitudes,” you’re just going to have to accept that. Only old people reference Bob Dylan and Walt Whitman in the same conversation. Finally, it’s kinda mean to diss someone you dated publicly on a podcast so… sounds like she dodged a bullet 🤣 —fellow millennial

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    itsvickyt33
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the entertaining history storytelling and banter, but some note excessive ads and strong personal views at times.
Ad-heavy episodes are a common complaint among certain listeners.
Critics mention bias and off-topic tangents, but many still enjoy the host dynamics and guest insights.
The show is praised for turning long historical narratives into digestible, humorous content with vivid anecdotes.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#59
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#66
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#169
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#83
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#238
Philippines/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#19
Philippines/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?

This show blends history with humor, exploring strange, surprising, and often ridiculous episodes from the past. Episodes frequently mix deep-dive context with witty banter, bringing in guests and collaborators to illuminate odd social customs, dramatic historical anecdotes, and cultural quirks. A notable strength is its ability to pair entertaining storytelling with accessible historical detail, making complex moments feel relatable. Listeners likely enjoy curious, entertaining takes on history, pop culture crossovers, and the occasional provocative take from the hosts. The format's mix of guest perspectives, rapid-fire banter, and memorable anecdotes can be especially engaging for those who like history served with personality and humor, ... 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?

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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 To Blow Your Mind
3. Stuff You Should Know
4. Stuff You Missed in History Class
5. Useless Information Podcast

How many episodes of Ridiculous History are there?

Ridiculous History launched 9 years ago and published 1059 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Ridiculous History?

Recent guests on Ridiculous History include:

1. Alex Williams
2. Pat Larash
3. Christopher Haciotus
4. Christopher Haciotis
5. Jabari Davis
6. Miles Gray
7. Jack O'Brien
8. Jordan Runtagh

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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